MIAMI -- Hurricane Gustav has reached maximum winds near 135 mph, making it a dangerous Category 4 hurricane, the second major hurricane of the season. Gustav is expected to reach Category 5 status before making landfall on the Gulf Coast.
Texas and Louisiana put their national guards on standby, and New Orleans said a mandatory evacuation might be necessary.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Hanna has seen little change in strength, with winds at 50 mph as it continues heading for the Bahamas.
Gustav's Position at 2 a.m.
- Position: 23.5 North, 84.4 West
- Distance from Key West: 158 miles S
- Distance from mouth of Mississippi: 485 miles SE
- Movement: 15 mph NW
- Winds: 135 mph
- Minimum Central Pressure: 958 mb (28.29 inches)
Hanna's Position at 2 a.m.
- Position: 23.0 North, 68.1 West
- Distance From Grand Turk Island: 220 miles E
- Movement: 8 mph WNW
- Winds: 55 mph
- Minimum Central Pressure: 999 mb (29.50 inches)
2 a.m. Hurricane Gustav Advisory
The center of Hurricane Gustav was located near latitude 23.5 north, longitude 84.4 west or about 485 miles southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Gustav is moving toward the northwest near 15 mph and this motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days. On this track, the center of Gustav is forecast to move into the central Gulf of Mexico later Sunday and then make landfall on the northern Gulf Coast on Monday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 135 mph with higher gusts. Gustav is a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. While Gustav has weakened during its passage over Cuba, it is forecast to intensify during the next 24 hours as it moves over the Gulf of Mexico. Fluctuations in strength are likely after that time, but Gustav is forecast to remain a major hurricane through landfall along the northern Gulf Coast.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles. A NOAA C-man observation site at Pulaski Shoal in the Florida Keys recently reported sustained winds of 56 mph with gusts to 62 mph. Minimum central pressure as estimated from Air Force hurricane hunter observations is 958 mb or 28.29 inches.
Coastal storm surge flooding and waves along the coast of western
Cuba should continue to subside. A storm surge of 1 to 3 feet above normal tide levels is possible in the Dry Tortugas as Gustav passes to its west.
Gustav is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches across central and western Cuba, with isolated maximum amounts of up to 20 inches possible. These rains will likely produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are possible over Florida Keys and extreme southern Florida. Rainfall associated with Gustav may begin to affect the central Gulf Coast region Sunday night.
Isolated tornadoes are possible this morning over the Florida Keys and the southern Florida Peninsula.
The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 5 a.m. EDT.
2 a.m. Tropical Storm Hanna Advisory
The center of Tropical Storm Hanna was located near latitude 23.0 north, longitude 68.1 west or about 220 miles east-northeast of Grand Turk island.
Hanna is moving toward the west-northwest near 8 mph. A west to west-northwestward motion is expected with a gradual decrease in forward speed during the next couple of days. On the forecast track, the center of Hanna is expected to move near or just northeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands late Sunday or Monday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 55 mph with higher gusts. Some gradual strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles from the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 999 mb or 29.50 inches.
Long-period swells from Hanna are expected to increase the risk of dangerous rip currents along portions of the southeastern United States coast during the next couple of days.
The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 5 a.m. EDT.
Track Gustav and Hanna's paths with our Hurricane Tracker and downloadable map, available at the News 13 Hurricane Center.
Need help getting ready for a hurricane? News 13 on Demand, Bright House Networks Digital Cable Channel 313, has a Hurricane Center filled with vital information on what you can do to prepare for a storm. In the Severe Weather section, News 13's meteorologists show you how to be safe when a storm strikes.
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