GUSTAV WEAKENS TO A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANECENTER APPROACHING NEW IBERIA AND LAFAYETTE LOUISIANA

NEW ORLEANS,LA (RUSHPRNEWS) 09/01/2008–A hurricane warning remains in effect from just east of high island Texas eastward to the Mississippi and Alabama border including the city of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. Preparations to protect life and property should have been completed. A tropical storm warning remains in effect from the Mississippi Alabama border to the Florida Alabama border.

For storm information specific to your area including possible inland watches and warnings please monitor products issued by your local weather office.

At 200 pm cdt1900zthe center of hurricane Gustav was located near latitude 29.9 north longitude 91.5 west or just northeast of Franklin Louisiana. This position is also about 35 miles 55 km southeast of Lafayette Louisiana.

Gustav is moving toward the northwest near 16 mph26 km/hr and this general motion is expected to continue with a decrease in the forward speed during the next couple of days. On the forecast track the center of Gustav will track along the south central Louisiana coast for the rest of the afternoon then move intowestern Louisiana tonight and eastern Texas on Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 90 mph145 km/hr with higher gusts. Gustav is now a category one hurricane on the saffir, Simpson scale. Additional weakening is forecast as the center of Gustav moves inland over Louisiana.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 50 miles80 km from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles325 km. New Iberia recently reported a wind gust of 75 mph121 km/hr.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 962 mb28.26 inches.

An extremely dangerous storm surge of 10 to 14 feet above normal tidal levels is expected near and to the east of where the center of Gustav crosses the coast.

Gustav is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches over portions of Louisiana southern and western
Mississippi Arkansas and north-eastern Texas with isolated
maximum amounts of up to 20 inches possible through Thursday.

A few tornadoes are possible over the central gulf coast today.

Repeating the 200 pm CDT position29.9 n91.5 w.
Movement toward northwest near 16 mph. Maximum sustained winds90 mph.

Minimum central pressure962 mb.
The next advisory will be issued by the national
hurricane center at 400 pm CDT.

SOURCE: NHC
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT2+shtml/011855.shtml