Category Three Gustav Still Dangerous

While Hurricane Gustav has continued to weaken this afternoon with winds now as of 2pm at 115 mph, it is still a category 3 major hurricane and has the potential to strengthen still this afternoon and tonight. Landfall is expected around midday tomorrow in central Louisiana. I will post a complete update late tonight or early Monday morning. Until then follow the links on the left side of the page for the latest on Hurricane Gustav this evening. Have a great night.

Gustav Even Weaker….For Now

Do not let your guard down. Yes, Hurricane Gustav did weaken overnight and now as of 8am, the storm has winds of 120 mph and a pressure of 960 millibars. However, the storm is forecast to re-strengthen this afternoon as waters are very warm and the wind shear is low.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Hanna has strengthened a little bit this morning and now has winds of 60 mph. While strengthening is expected to cease for awhile the next few days as wind shear increases, but towards the middle of next week is supposed to relax and allow the storm to strengthen as the forecast path turns northwestward. Persons from the east coast of Florida northward through the Carolinas need to monitor the progress of this storm as landfall is possible late next week.  And when all this is going on, a new area of low pressure has formed in the far eastern Atlantic and could become a tropical depression or even tropical storm later today. However, no impacts to land is expected for at least a week. Squally weather will improve in the Cape Verde Islands later today.

Gustav Weakens a Little; Still a Cat 4

Interacting with Cuba allowed Hurricane Gustav to weaken slightly. The storm now has winds of 140 mph and a pressure of 948 millibars. However, the eye is now back over water and intensification is possible today. Expect to see hurricane warnings issued Sunday morning. I will post a complete update around 8 am Sunday.

Gustav Makes Another Landfall

Just before 8pm this evening, Hurricane Gustav made landfall near Los Palacios, Cuba with winds of 150 mph. There actually were unofficial reports of winds of this magnitude over the mainland of Cuba. Once daylight comes tomorrow morning, no one wants to see what damage this hurricane has done to the western portions of this island. The storm will weaken a little over the next 3 to 6 hours because of its interaction with Cuba but since the storm is moving at 15 mph and the island is so small it wont do too much to the circulation, but I have noticed a small decrease in organization and thunderstorms filling into the eye. However, once the eye emerges into the Gulf overnight into Sunday morning, significant re-strengthening is expected and Gustav may become a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane.  The next update comes out at 11pm tonight.

Hurricane Watches Issued for US Gulf Coast

Dangerous Category 4 Hurricane Gustav is continuing to strengthen this afternoon and now as of 5pm, has winds of 150 mph. This afternoon, the center of this dangerous storm produced an unofficial wind gust to 140 mph over the Isle of Youth south of Cuba. Now the center is about to pass over the western portion of Cuba and emerge over the southern Gulf of Mexico by Sunday morning….and it could very well be a category 5 when it does this. However, all of the forecast models show weakening before landfall along the Gulf Coast. That being said, the hurricane is expected to be a major hurricane at landfall. The meteorology behind that theory is that these hurricanes cannot stay this strong too long. Hurricanes at such high intensities go through what is known of as eye-wall replacement cycles. When these cycles are in place winds can decrease by as much as 20 mph at a time, but once these cycles are over then the storms can re-fire.

With all this being said, Gustav is expected to be the biggest threat to the United States from a hurricane in recent history. Persons along the Gulf Coast are already undergoing many preperations for this storm. As the center has came closer to the coast, hurricane watches have been issued and are in effect from High Island, TX eastward to the Florida/Alabama border. Hurricane watches mean that hurricane conditions are possible generally within 36 hours. NOW is the time to prepare if you live in the hurricane watch area. Tropical storm watches are also in effect for portions of the Florida Gulf Coast.

Mandatory evacuations are in effect for portions of New Orleans. For details specific to your area, log on to local National Weather Service sites. Beginning tomorrow, this blog Youngstown WeatherWATCH will go in to StormWARNING mode and special links to affected area sites and other special hurricane information will be available. Stay tuned for updates this evening as we keep you ahead of this dangerous hurricane.

Gustav A Dangerous Category Four

At 2pm, reports from a NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft show that Hurricane Gustav has become a deadly Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale with winds of 145 mph.  The pressure has fallen to 945 millibars. A complete update will be posted around 530 pm this evening.

Canfield Fair Forecast

After a rather gloomy and rainy start to the Canfield Fair here in the Mahoning Valley, the last 3 days of the fair look absolutely perfect. For your Saturday, partly cloudy skies and temperatures around 82 will be on the menu. As we head into Sunday and Monday sunny skies will be overhead with temperatures a little warmer, around 84 to 85 degrees. Get out and enjoy the last “unofficial” weekend of Summer!

MAJOR HURRICANE GUSTAV

At 8am, Hurricane Gustav is now a major hurricane – a Category 3 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds near 120 mph and a pressure of 955 millibars. Continued strengthening is expected today and Gustav is forecast to become a category 4 (131-155 mph). Keep it here for the latest on this dangerous storm.

BREAKING NEWS

As of 5am, Hurricane Gustav now has winds of 110 mph and is a strong category 2 hurricane. More intensification is expected today and Gustav has the potential to become a major hurricane. The center is expected to make landfall late today over the western tip of Cuba as it is currently 255 miles away from the island. A more in depth analysis of this dangerous hurricane will be posted later today, but for now short updates such as this will keep you ahead of the storm.

Maybe a Thunderstorm

For all you fair-goers out there tonight, there is a chance of some rain or a thunderstorm. The chance will subside after midnight. As for temperatures, it will be very muggy to start the night but improve towards morning. Lows tonight will be right about near 60 degrees. Enjoy the night at the 2008 Canfield Fair!!!