Gustav Weakens Slightly
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www.weather.com)
Kevin Roth, Lead Meteorologist, The Weather Channel
2:20 p.m. ET 8/31/2008
As of 1 p.m. CDT, Gustav was centered about 270 miles southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River, moving northwest at 17 mph.
Hurricane Gustav has continued a weakening trend that began earlier today. As of 1 pm CDT top winds were down to near 115 mph. Even though it is slightly weaker, Gustav is still and dangerous category 3 hurricane and some strengthening is possible before it makes landfall along the Louisiana coast Monday.
Hurricane Gustav should continue to move in a northwesterly direction with some slightly slowing through Monday. On that path and speed the landfall should occur Monday morning, however any turn to the west would prolong the landfall into Monday afternoon or evening.
Squally showers should continue along the Florida peninsula and far southeastern Louisian through this evening. Other outer bands of squally showers should move into the Florida panhandle, southern Alabama, southern Mississippi and more of the Louisiana coast later today and tonight. The threat of tornadoes increases overnight in those areas as well.
All interests along the Gulf Coast should pay very close attention to this extremely dangerous storm.
Tropical Storm Hanna was centered about 140 miles north of Grand Turk Island as of 2 p.m. EDT. Maximum sustained winds have dropped to 45 mph.
Hanna has been impacted by strong shearing winds in association with an upper-level low in the region. The upper-level low is forecast to weaken, but the overall environment for Hanna should remain quite hostile for the next 24 to 48 hours keeping the system weak.
Hanna has been on a westerly course for the last few days and that motion is expected to continue through Monday morning. At that time Hanna may make a turn to the southwest and approach the southeastern Bahamas.
Upon entering the southeastern Bahamas Hanna is forecast to turn back to a northwesterly direction. That means Hanna could pass through most of the Bahamas before making a run at the southeast U.S. coast later in the week.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic Basin, a tropical wave and broad low pressure area about 150 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands bears close watching. Thunderstorm activity has increased near this low once again. Conditions are still favorable for a tropical depression to form within the next day or so as the system moves westward at 10 to 15 mph. There is another tropical wave about 930 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands that is being monitored for development.
For the latest on the busy tropics, stay tuned to The Weather Channel and for updates here on weather.com.
