All eyes are on Gustav today as the slow-moving storm pounds Jamaica with heavy rain and tropical-storm strength wind. The U.S. Gulf Coast could be the final destination of this potential dangerous storm, maybe in time for a late-Labor Day surprise.
Just like it did in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, lumbering Gustav will likely trigger life-threatening flooding and mudslides across Jamaica today and tonight as it pushes along the island`s south coast.
Gustav will also scoot by the Caymans and western Cuba over the next several days as it strengthens and makes its slow turn to the northwest. It is expected to be in the southeast Gulf of Mexico early Sunday, where it could be a major Category 3, 111-plus mph hurricane by Labor Day.
It is too early to forecast where on the Gulf Coast Gustav will strike, so residents and visitors on Gulf Coast from Texas to the Florida panhandle should watch Gustav`s track carefully and begin preliminary preparations.
A Hurricane Warning is now in effect for Jamaica.
Tropical Storm Warnings remain in effect for the Cuban providence of Granma.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Cayman Islands.
WeatherBug Meteorologist Rachel Peterson has the latest on Gustav in this exclusive WeatherBug Video.
As of 2 p.m. EDT, Gustav is centered near 17.9 N, 76.1 W or about 45 miles east of Kingston, Jamaica. This places it just over 600 miles south-southeast of Miami.
Estimated maximum sustained winds remain at 70 mph, making Gustav a strong tropical storm. Gustav is expected to continue to strengthen, and will likely once again become a hurricane today.
The central pressure is estimated to be 983 mb or 29.03 inches. Gustav is moving to the west at 5 mph. A turn to the nwest-northwest and northwest is forecast over the next several days. This will bring it just to the south of Jamaica later today and over the Cayman Islands late Friday into Saturday.
WeatherBug meteorologists will continue to track this dangerous storm around the clock, so keep checking back for additional updates throughout the week.
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