Gustav Clears Jamaica; Intensification Underway

GUSTAV UPDATE...
   A potential catastrophic situation is unfolding for the Gulf Coast...
     Currently Tropical Storm Gustav has sustained winds of 70MPH and is intensifying. Minimum central pressure is down to 984 Millibars. Also of interest is Gustav's wind field has been expanding. This is worrisome only because not only is it intensifying but with the wind field expanding this will leave a wider path of potential destruction. Visible Satellite indicates that an eye is attempting to form. This eye feature should have success in becoming more defined over the next several hours, this also would likely indicate strengthening. Outflow is good in all quadrants of the Hurricane, and Sea Surface Temperatures are at a "high octane" level. So Gustav has the potential to rapidly intensify.
     Computer models continue to be in fair agreement. At this point in time it looks like Gustav will make a landfall over South-Central Coast of Louisiana. Now even though this means its not going to be directly over New Orleans, the core of strongest will be very close, and with New Orleans being in the right front quadrant of the soon to be Hurricane Gustav, this means storm surge flooding will push in from the Ocean up in through the bays and channels and into Lake Pontchartrain. This is actually more significant then Hurricane Katrina which came in from the South-Southeast which did not allow for optimal storm surge flooding into Lake Pontchartrain. But that was still a Catastrophic situation. With levees not even finished and the potential of New Orleans being in the right front quadrant of this hurricane, and the fact it could make Landfall as a Category 4 Hurricane, this has the potential to be Catastrophic for the still damaged New Orleans.
     The final thing I am going to cover is the inevitable. If you live along the Gulf Coast from the Texas/ Louisiana border to the Alabama/ Florida border, you need to prepare for evacuation. If you live in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama in areas hit by Hurricane Katrina you should be getting things ready to evacuate, and if you live in New Orleans, it is recommended that you begin to evacuate today. More information is coming in right now, so stay tuned for an updated post.