Can the intensity of a hurricane be predicted?

It is possible to predict the track of a hurricane with a reasonable degree of accuracy several days in advance. Unfortunately predicting intensity is less certain, and potential victims don't know whether to expect a rather heavy thunderstorm or something truly apocalyptic. Evacuation may be a wise precautionary measure, but when the promised devastation does not occur it looks like crying wolf....

Researchers at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas are developing a new modelling technique to predict the speed of hurricane winds.