MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 - 6:00 PM NOTE: THIS IS THE LAST STORM ALERT POST FOR GUSTAV
Strength: Category 1
Winds: 80 MPH
Central Pressure: 966 MB
Location: 15 Miles N of Lafayette, LA
Moving: NW 16 MPH
Expected To: Continue To Weaken
Comments: Hurricane Gustav is continuing to hammer inland Louisiana. New Orleans was spared that brunt and the levees seem to have held up to the challenge, despite being topped by a few feet. Gustav has spawned 100's of tornadoes and continues to do so. Gustav is still expected to stall over northwestern Louisiana and eastern Texas. As of now 2 million people in Louisiana are without power. Oil prices plummeted by $4.16, down to a closing prices of $111.30 a barrel.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 - 11:45 AM
Strength: Category 2
Winds: 110 MPH
Central Pressure: 955 MB
Location: 70 Miles SW of New Orleans
Moving: NW 15 MPH
Expected To: Weaken
Comments: I slept in :-P Anyway, Gustav has officially made landfall in south central Louisiana. There are widespread power outages as you would expect. The levees in New Orleans are holding up well as of now, however the water has risen to a point that it is overflowing in some areas. Also, there is a barge loose in one of the cdanals, and the fear is that it will crash into the side of the levee and repeat the situation that happened in 2005. As far as oil/gas prices go on the markets, it pretty interesting to say the least. Everyone was saying that it was going to skyrockect, and that would make sense. But oil prices have plummeted more than $4.50 a barrel, and gas price futures are trading down 10 cents a gallon. All of this will change of course if we hear of damage to oil rigs or refineries. Just FYI, I am now watching Tropical Storm Hanna in the Bahama's. It is expected to become a hurricane Wednesday and make landfall on the Georgia/South Carolina coast Friday. Also Tropical Depression 9, soon to be Tropical Storm Ike has formed way out in the Atlantic. That will be our next major hurricane, and it just may enter the Gulf of Mexico way down the road.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31 - 11:00 PM
Strength: Category 3
Winds: 115 MPH
Central Pressure: 954 MB
Location: 220 Miles SE of New Orleans
Moving: NW 16 MPH
Expected To: Stay Same Strength
Comments: So Hurricane Gustav has held steady at 115 MPH. It is still a dangerous Category 3 Hurricane barreling down on Louisiana's coast. The forward speed has started to slow, and is expected to continue that trend and when it makes landfall and moves into north western Louisiana and eastern Texas, it could stall and cause catastrophic flooding. The first deaths have been reported here in the USA from Gustav. 3 critical care patients in New Orleans who were being evacuated from their hospitals died en route to their destination. Media coverage of Hurricane Gustav is extreme, non stop on every network. I am going to bed, and will update you tomorrow morning.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31 - 10:10 PM
Strength: Category 3
Winds: 115 MPH
Central Pressure: 952 MB
Location: 260 Miles SSE of New Orleans
Moving: NW 17 MPH
Expected To: Slightly Strengthen
Comments: Hurricane Gustav was a Category 4 when it made landfall this time last night in Cuba with winds of 150 MPH. After reemerging into the Gulf of Mexico it had a hard time regaining the strength it had lost over land. However, it seems that the latest satellite images show it regaining good shape and the central pressure has steadily been dropping at a slow pace. I am pretty sure winds will atleast slightly increase when we get our update from the National Hurricane Center at 11 PM. This info that I have is from 8 PM. Hurricane force winds extend 70 miles out from the center and Tropical Storm force winds extend out 220 miles from the center. 96% of all oil in the Gulf have been shut down and evacuated. 95% of New Orleans residents evacuated. Hurricane Gustav has lead to the largest evacuation in Louisiana history. At one time, The Weather Channel's Mike Bettes was reporting live and a rain band came through and he saw rotation as tornado sirens blared. If that makes it to YouTube I will post the link.
