Gustav the new Katrina? Hurricane Gustav has really become a very dangerous weather system. It has claimed about 80 lives now in the Caribbean and is currently affecting the NorthWestern tip of Cuba. After exiting Cuba sometime late tonight into tommorow she will move into the South Western Gulf of Mexico and move on up to Louisiana by Monday on the present track. However, errors of deviation may take it as far West as eastern Texas or near the Alabama-Florida boundaries. The system at 17:00 was packing sustained winds of 150 mph with higher gusts. Centered at about 21.2 N, 82.9 W which is just to the NNE of Isla de Juventud. The system could strengthen into a CAT:5 system as it moves away from Cuba. Source: National Hurricane Center
A mandatory evacuation order has been given for New Orleans: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/gustav_gulf_coast
This looks to be one heck of a hurricane season. Gustav looks like he's coming ashore at night, Hana is starring at the east coast and has anybody looked at what's behind Hana? Most of us were around for Andrew. We all watched Katrina. Let there be nobody who doesn't take these storms seriously. Prepare when there is a hint. Get out when told.
Hanna has been moving very slowly but now started a little momentum. I think Florida should watch this system closely. Even though, presently her wind-strength is fluctuating between 50 and 60mph. Gustav on the other hand has weakened considerably after passing over North Western Cuba. She is down to 120mph in sustained winds but that is still a substantial CAT:3 system and can do alot of damage. In essence Gustav has to be watched as he may restrengthen advancing into the upper Gulf.
Per Dial a Buoy: 64 miles south of Mobile winds are about 40 kts. Seas are running 25 ft & building.My mistake, on second look it's a 13.5' wind wave sitting on top of a 20' swell. That's huge.
Preparations are a heck of a lot better than Katrina. Crews on stand by in Denver and other reasonably close positions. If there is damage offshore and at the onshore refining facilities, as soon as the storm is over, there won't be the lag time that there was last go round. Looks like there are other potential nasties out there, Hanna and friends.
Glad to see Gulfport, MS is relatively Gustav free, much to the relief of our friends at Trinity. Let's hope their New Orleans facility fairs as well.
Well, Gustav made landfall and naturally has degenerated to a minimal CAT:1 hurricane before eventually slithering out to a non-topical Low. However, Hanna has become a hurricane today since Gustav's landfall and is now packing winds of 80mph, affecting the Southern Bahamas. I believe Florida should watch this system with interest. Another system formed today was well. Over the central Atlantic, Tropical Storm IKE formed. Ike is up to about 50 mph at the moment. Not too far behind is a very strong area of disturbed weather that is very organized and could become a depression late tonite or early tommorow once environmental conditions remain conducive.
Now that Gustav is a Tropical Depression, he is no more. However, eyes should be fixed upon Tropical Storm Hanna (70mph), Tropical Storm Ike (60 mph) and now the newly formed Tropical Storm Josephine (40 mph). Josephine was that strong Tropical Wave that came off the Western coast of Africa about 2 days ago. Source: National Hurricane Center
Trinity Yachts happily reports no damage at the Gulfport shipyard and minimal damage at the New Orleans Shipyard.
