For a more recent update on Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna, CLICK HERE
Hurricane Gustav NHC Forecast Track 2pm 0829
I told you that Gustav would be a hurricane before sundown and probably well before the sun set. It’s looking very impressive on satellite(image at bottom). It has an eye and has pretty good looking outflow…its got its hat and that is just as important as warm water. aI still go along with what Dr. Jack Beven suggested last night that it would not be surprising to see this guy intensify rapidly but perhaps more significantly than the current forecast. However, if it enters a hostile environment that may back it off somewhat back to the forecast intensity at landfall….and so if it gets stronger first and then backs off, its sorta moot point . Nevertheless, it is not Gospel that the more hostile environment will still be there when it gets to the Central Gulf. All interests from Pensacola to Corpus Christi should pay attention. The official track currently makes landfall on the east side of Vermillion Bay near Franklin, LA it to Lafayette, LA then to Fort Polk, LA. This is indicative of a ridge building in and forcing it west. Its not totally out of the question that the storm goes west prior to landfall. Either way, it is becoming more likely that this guy may get stuck inland after landfall and become a big rainmaker-headache wherever it goes in, until a late week front picks it up. The 18Z stuff isn’t in yet so:
Click Here for the latest spaghetti models and previous discussion.
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WTNT62 KNHC 291915
TCUAT2
HURRICANE GUSTAV TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL072008 315 PM EDT FRI AUG 29 2008
DATA FROM AN AIR FORCE RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT GUSTAV HAS AGAIN BECOME A HURRICANE WITH MAXIMUM WINDS NEAR 75 MPH…120 KM/HR. $$ FORECASTER KNABB
