Sunday, August 31, 2008

From NWS Mobile / NHC


HURRICANE GUSTAV LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
219 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 2008

...GUSTAV WEAKENS A LITTLE MORE...BUT STILL A MAJOR HURRICANE...

...HURRICANE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR MOBILE AND BALDWIN COUNTIES AS
WELL AS THE ADJACENT GULF COASTAL WATERS OF ALABAMA...

...TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE WESTERN FLORIDA
PANHANDLE AS WELL AS THE ADJACENT GULF COASTAL WATERS OF
NORTHWEST FLORIDA...

...TROPICAL STORM WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR STONE...
GEORGE... GREENE...PERRY AND WAYNE COUNTIES OF SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI AND WASHINGTON COUNTY OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY FOR EXPECTED
HEAVY RAINS OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHWEST
ALABAMA...

AT 100 PM CDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE GUSTAV WAS LOCATED ABOUT 270 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

GUSTAV IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 17 MPH. THIS GENERAL
MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE WITH A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED
DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THIS TRACK...GUSTAV SHOULD MAKE
LANDFALL ON THE NORTHERN GULF COAST ON MONDAY.

REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE TO DECREASED TO NEAR 115 MPH...WITH
HIGHER GUSTS. GUSTAV REMAINS A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON THE
SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME RE-INTENSIFICATION IS FORECAST DURING THE
NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS...AND GUSTAV COULD REGAIN CATEGORY FOUR STRENGTH
LATER TODAY OR TONIGHT. FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH ARE LIKELY
THEREAFTER...BUT GUSTAV IS FORECAST TO REMAIN A MAJOR HURRICANE UNTIL
LANDFALL.

GUSTAV IS A LARGE TROPICAL CYCLONE. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND
OUTWARD UP TO 50 MILES FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE
WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 200 MILES. NOAA BUOY 42003 RECENTLY
REPORTED 8-MINUTE AVERAGE WINDS OF 60 MPH...WITH A GUST TO 78 MPH.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY AN AIR FORCE RESERVE
HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT IS 960 MB...28.35 INCHES.

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