Gustav Still A Hurricane; Elsewhere In The Tropics Significant Trouble Is Brewing

GUSTAV UPDATE...
   Heavy Rains and Strong Winds Continue To Batter Louisiana; Stronger Winds And Heavy Rain Are Begining To Move Into Far Eastern Texas Now...




     National Weather Service Doppler radar continues to indicate the eye of hurricane Gustav moving Northwest at around 14MPH. Over the past 45 - 60 minutes or so though, it appears Gustav may be slowing down now. This will have to be monitored. Currently the center is near Alexandria, Louisiana. Right now in and around Alexandria heavy rain of up to 3 inches per hour are falling. Radar estimates that up to 8 inches of rain has fallen in and around this area. Numerous Flash Flood Warnings are out across the entire state of Louisiana. A Tornado warning is out for areas just east of Alexandria. Sustained winds as of 9PM central time at the Alexandria International airport are 32MPH with gusts to 48MPH. At around 8PM central time the International airport there reported a wind gust to 61MPH. Widespread tree, and power line damage has been reported from central Louisiana, back across Southeastern Louisiana. Numerous power outages have been reported. Tornadoes have been reported as well across Central, and Eastern Louisiana, as well as adjacent Mississippi.
     As far as storm surge flooding goes reported of storm surge flooding have been received in Gulfport, Mississippi, and in Waveland, and Plaquemines, Louisiana. At Plaquemines the storm surge this morning was reported to be at 9 feet. This is all the storm surge reports I have been able to find thus far. I am sure far more reports will come in later.
     Now for more details on winds, and movement of Gustav. The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center at 7PM Central time indicates that sustained winds remains at 75MPH with gusts to 95MPH. Minimum central pressure has risen to 972 millibars. On the next advisory which should becoming out shortly, Gustav will likely be down to a tropical depression. The forecast continues to indicate slowing of Gustav and eventually a turn to the north on Wednesday and then northeast around Friday.

TROPICS UPDATE...
     Just a quick note on the tropics. As you may or may not know Hanna is still drifting around out there near the Caicos Islands, with sustained winds of 80MPH. Also Tropical storm Ike formed earlier today, now with sustained winds of 50MPH, this storm is still way out in the open waters, approximately 1400 miles west of the eastern Leeward islands. And of course another very well defined tropical wave is just off the coast of Africa, and this looks very likely to form into the next tropical depression in the next day or so, and eventually the next named storm, which would be Josephine. So things will likely remain busy for the next couple weeks. Of the next most significant concern though will be what Hurricane Hanna will do. All the above storms you can see on the above infrared satellite image. The next tropical depression and possible named storm Josephine is east of Ike, and this particular satellite image does not show it. Stay tuned!!