Gustav reportedly CAT 4 - 145 mph winds, expecting a 5 Get out now!

[lonestarnot]

Be safe! :grouphug:

[ProdigalJunkMail]

1. just looked...WOW!!!

[HCE SuiGeneris]

2. Latest satellite pic...

[lonestarnot]

3. San dan donia! And Hanna is on his heals. Do you have one of her?

[HCE SuiGeneris]

15. Here you go...

[HCE SuiGeneris]

20. And an enlarged view...

[Nikki Stone1]

8. Holy crap.

I'm having Katrina flashbacks.

[roody]

35. Look out Cuba!!

Oh yeah, they are ready, working together and even evacuate their refrigerators.

[dkofos]

4. Still 3 days out. No worries.

[lonestarnot]

5. If I lived there I'd still be worried, as I worry, that's just one of my

bad qualities. LOL

[dkofos]

10. Did you see the waves coming off Africa?

You can start worrying about them before they are even named.

[lonestarnot]

14. gee thanks!

lol

[tpsbmam]

22. Good and bad....

....which is so often true about many of our qualities. But caution is certainly warranted in situations like this! I'd already be outta there to avoid the evacuation traffic.....if your worry caused you to do the same then your worry would be a good thing. And my friends would likely be laughing at me as they often do. But then again they've been sorry sometimes when they haven't listened to me. I live in the mountains of NC (Asheville area) and warned friends to gas up before Katrina. They all thought I was out of my freaking mind. Well, come Katrina our prices shot up but worse, we had a gas shortage -- some stations closed completely and those that didn't had lines and rationed. It was relatively brief but I have to admit I smirked a little with my full tank of gas. LOL This time I said "get Gustav gas" and they're all doing just that!

I'm pretty low on worry but I'm high on caution and precaution. We have 5 houses on a well -- can't flush toilets if we lose power during storms. My neighbors used to laugh at me when I filled 2 bathtubs as bad ice/wind/rain storms neared (I do one now during the drought) -- I'm the one who is laughing when I can flush my damn toilets and they're all complaining they can't! :banghead: They know who the one with a storm kit is, who always has working flashlights, etc etc -- I don't worry because I'm prepared!

I just hope that all in the path of Gustav are safe, their loved ones are safe, their pets are safe.....there's nothing that can be done about the immovable material things (a house!) but as long as all of the living beings are safe, I'd deal with the rest as it arises. (Been there with a house being flooded -- just the basement, thank goodness -- worry did nothing but make me nuts -- didn't change the outcome.)

[tsuki]

6. We are packed. We are not going to ride this one out if it turns our

way.

[dana_b]

9. good.

which state are you in?

[tsuki]

39. In NW FL, on a barrier island. Waiting to see which way to go.

[dana_b]

7. I really hope that the people who are still in those lousy trailer homes

can get to the buses or some sort of transportation and get out. Maybe Gustav will spare LA.

[Nikki Stone1]

11. There is funding for buses this time

http://www.wwltv.com/

There will also probably be a mandatory evacuation of NOLA tonight. However, a lot of people have been on buses out since yesterday.

[MiniMe]

12. Here is a projected path map from CNN

:scared:

[Lorien]

17. Yikes! I hope that it will track further South

The folks in the areas that were hit by Katrina are STILL living in a huge mess. At least Texas would get some REAL help from FEMA and the National Guard it they get the brunt of the storm.

I'm in Florida and we're already having monsoon like rains right now as Gustav's bands move through.

[lastliberalintexas]

40. Um, Texas didn't get much help from the feds when Rita hit

Why people think the response would be much better this time is beyond me.

S Texas is still recovering from Dolly, SE Texas is still recovering from Rita/Humberto/Eduoard, NOLA and points east are still recovering from Katrina, Florida from Fay. There just isn't a good place for Gus to land. :(

[eShirl]

13. kick

[TahitiNut]

16. Gustav has the potential to be worse for NOLA (in particular) than Katrina

Its projected track to the west of NOLA and its dramatically upgraded forecast intensity makes it a MAJOR threat. Please, please, please hope and pray that our fellow human beings in NOLA are safe.

[EFerrari]

18. Anybody seen Swampy?

:(

[ncrainbowgrrl]

25. I think I saw a thread where Swampy was evacuating.

Could be wrong though...

[lonestarnot]

28. Swampie knows he has to get out, my guess already gone! I'd love to hear from him though!

:worry:

[EFerrari]

30. Thanks, ncrainbowgirl. n/t

[ncrainbowgrrl]

36. no prob- I know how it is to worry about our DU friends!

:hi:

[Fleshdancer]

19. This is insane

My thoughts are with everyone affected by Gustav.

[northernlights]

21. tracking to the west of NOLA

won't that put the storm surge directly over NOLA? And Hannah is coming on right behind....holy freakin crap.

[entanglement]

23. They under predicted its intensity - worrying

[RL3AO]

24. Hard to forecast rapid intensification.

But they did say this on Thursday night.

"HOWEVER...IT WOULD BE NO SURPRISE IF RAPID INTENSIFICATION OCCURRED AND GUSTAV BECAME A CATEGORY 4 OR 5 HURRICANE BY 72 HR."

[RL3AO]

26. Key West radar

[roamer65]

29. Once it gets north of Cuba, its gonna pick up steam fast.

Please be safe and get out of its way, DU'ers.

:grouphug:

[Feron]

27. Well if it keeps on its current track..

I'll be okay. I have supplies and just have a few loose ends around the house to tie up.

I'm planning on staying, but if things change I'm leaving.

I just feel so sorry for the Cubans right now. Hopefully there will be no loss of life.

[tannybogus]

31. Even if you live inland, be ready.

Google Hurricane Camille. It devastated VA with rain.
Also,Hugo came ashore at Charleston, smashed to the center of the state in Columbia,
and then turned north and took out Charlotte. Lots of people were in those
cities trying to escape. Flooding and power can be major problems.

I can't conceive what a cat5 will do much less something stronger.
The only way I can even begin is to look at before and after Camille pictures.

[ms liberty]

41. I live about 65 miles NW of Charlotte, and Hugo's eye went over about 20 miles W of us...

and it was still at hurricane strength, although just barely. It was bad enough to do a helluva lot of damage to homes, a lot of damage from trees uprooted or felled, power lines downed everywhere; I was out of power for 10 days myself...and had poison ivy at the same time, which really sucked.

[hedgehog]

32. Wasn't Katrina a Cat 3?

[mwooldri]

33. Katrina got up to Cat 5 but as it neared land got down to Cat 3. nt

[gristy]

34. This Public Advisory just posted by NWS - Cat 5 possible

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT2+shtml/302053.shtml?

000
WTNT32 KNHC 302053
TCPAT2
BULLETIN
HURRICANE GUSTAV ADVISORY NUMBER 25
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL072008
500 PM EDT SAT AUG 30 2008

...GUSTAV STILL STRENGTHENING AS IT IMPACTS WESTERN CUBA...

AT 500 PM EDT...2100 UTC...A HURRICANE WATCH IS ISSUED FOR THE
NORTHERN GULF COAST FROM EAST OF HIGH ISLAND TEXAS EASTWARD TO THE
ALABAMA-FLORIDA BORDER...INCLUDING THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE
PONTCHARTRAIN. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS
ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

AT 500 PM EDT...A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS ISSUED ALONG THE PANHANDLE
COAST OF FLORIDA FROM EAST OF THE ALABAMA-FLORIDA BORDER EASTWARD
TO THE OCHLOCKONEE RIVER. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT
TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH
AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CUBAN PROVINCES OF
PINAR DEL RIO...LA HABANA...CIUDAD DE LA HABANA...ISLA DE
JUVENTUD...MATANZAS...AND CIENFUEGOS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE
AND PROPERTY IN THE HURRICANE WARNING AREA SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN
COMPLETED.

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL CUBAN PROVINCE
OF VILLA CLARA.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL CUBAN
PROVINCES OF VILLA CLARA...SANCTI SPIRITUS...CIEGO DE AVILA...AND
CAMAGUEY...AND FOR THE LOWER FLORIDA KEYS WEST OF THE SEVEN MILE
BRIDGE TO DRY TORTUGAS.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 500 PM EDT...2100Z...THE EYE OF HURRICANE GUSTAV WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 22.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 82.9 WEST OR ABOUT 130 MILES...
210 KM...EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE WESTERN TIP OF CUBA AND ABOUT 80
MILES...135 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF HAVANA CUBA. DO NOT VENTURE
OUTSIDE DURING THE PASSAGE OF THE EYE...SINCE WINDS WILL SOON
RAPIDLY INCREASE AS EYEWALL AGAIN PASSES. THE EYE IS ALSO CURRENTLY
CENTERED ABOUT 620 MILES...1000 KM...SOUTHEAST OF THE NORTH-CENTRAL
GULF OF MEXICO COAST.

GUSTAV IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 15 MPH...24 KM/HR...AND
THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT COUPLE
OF DAYS. ON THIS TRACK...THE CENTER OF GUSTAV WILL CROSS WESTERN
CUBA TONIGHT...THEN EMERGE OVER THE SOUTHERN GULF OF MEXICO EARLY
ON SUNDAY...AND REACH THE NORTHERN GULF ON MONDAY.

DATA FROM AN AIR FORCE RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT MAXIMUM
SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 150 MPH...240 KM/HR...WITH
HIGHER GUSTS. GUSTAV IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY FOUR
HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS
WITH AN OVERALL SLIGHT STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24
HOURS...AND GUSTAV COULD REACH CATEGORY FIVE INTENSITY DURING THIS
PERIOD. GUSTAV IS FORECAST TO REMAIN A MAJOR HURRICANE THROUGH
LANDFALL ALONG THE NORTHERN GULF COAST.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES...110 KM...FROM
THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 175
MILES...280 KM.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE RECENTLY REPORTED BY THE RECONNAISSANCE
AIRCRAFT WAS 942 MB...27.82 INCHES.

COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 18 TO 23 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE
LEVELS...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...IS
POSSIBLE NEAR WHERE THE CENTER OF GUSTAV CROSSES WESTERN
CUBA...INCLUDING THE ISLE OF YOUTH. STORM SURGE OF 1 TO 3 FEET
ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS IS POSSIBLE IN THE DRY TORTUGAS AS GUSTAV
PASSES TO ITS WEST.

GUSTAV IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO
12 INCHES ACROSS CENTRAL AND WESTERN CUBA...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM
AMOUNTS OF UP TO 20 INCHES POSSIBLE. THESE RAINS WILL LIKELY
PRODUCE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES. RAINFALL
AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER FLORIDA KEYS AND EXTREME
SOUTHERN FLORIDA. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE
POSSIBLE OVER THE CAYMAN ISLANDS.

ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT OVER THE FLORIDA KEYS AND
THE SOUTHERN FLORIDA PENINSULA.

REPEATING THE 500 PM EDT POSITION...22.1 N...82.9 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 15 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...150 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...942 MB.

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER AT 800 PM EDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 1100
PM EDT.

$$
FORECASTER KNABB

[csziggy]

37. Computer models show some weird storm tracks for Gustav

But the ones that show Gustav changing direction are the ones that got it right for Fay.

Everybody, get out if you need to, hunker down if not, and be safe!

[Hekate]

38. Just got chills reading this. Stay safe, all you DUers. Get the hell out, and stay safe.

:grouphug:

Hekate