McClatchy Washington Bureau

Hurricane Ike regained strength and howled closer to the Turks and Caicos Islands Saturday, and forecasters shifted Ike's path south enough so that South Florida and the Keys may avoid a direct hit.

The latest forecast points Category 4 Ike on a course through Cuba Sunday and Monday, emerging in the Florida Straits Tuesday as a Category 1 storm after its interaction with land.

Its course from there is unclear, but Florida's Panhandle and the vulnerable Gulf Coast -- recently dealt a blow from Hurricane Gustav -- should be monitoring the storm. Forecasters said Ike could restrengthen into a major hurricane when it moves into the warm Gulf of Mexico next week.

Read the full story at MiamiHerald.com.