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.