Statement as of 8:00 am EDT on August 26, 2008
...Gustav a little stronger...nearing the South Coast of Haiti...
a Hurricane Warning remains in effect from Barahona in the Dominican
Republic westward to Le Mole St Nicholas Haiti. Preparations to
protect life and property should be nearing completion.
A Hurricane Watch remains in effect for Haiti from Le Mole St
Nicholas to the northern Haiti/Dominican Republic border.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Cuban provinces of Las
Tunas...Granma...Holguin...Santiago de Cuba...and Guantanamo. A
Hurricane Watch is also in effect for Jamaica. A Hurricane Watch
means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch
area...generally within 36 hours.
Interests in central and western Cuba and the Cayman Islands should
closely monitor the progress of Gustav.
For storm information specific to your area...including possible
inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued
by your local weather office.
At 800 am EDT...1200z...the center of Hurricane Gustav was located
near latitude 17.5 north...longitude 72.0 west or about 75 miles...
125 km...south-southeast of Port au Prince Haiti and about 265 miles
...425 km...southeast of Guantanamo Cuba.
Gustav is moving toward the northwest near 9 mph...15 km/hr...and
this motion is expected to continue today with a turn toward the
west-northwest and a decrease in forward speed forecast on
Wednesday. On this track this hurricane should move over
southwestern Haiti later today and near or just south of
eastern Cuba on Wednesday.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 90 mph...150
km/hr...with higher gusts. Gustav is a category one hurricane on
the Saffir-Simpson scale. The hurricane could become a category
two hurricane before landfall in Haiti later today.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles...35 km...from
the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70
miles...110 km.
The latest minimum central pressure reported by an Air Force
Reserve reconnaissance aircraft is 981 mb...28.97 inches.
Gustav is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 7
inches over southern Hispaniola and Jamaica...with isolated maximum
amounts of up to 15 inches possible. These rains may produce
life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.
Coastal storm surge flooding of 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels
can be expected near and to the east of where the center makes
landfall.
Repeating the 800 am EDT position...17.5 N...72.0 W. Movement
toward...northwest near 9 mph. Maximum sustained winds...90 mph.
Minimum central pressure...981 mb.
The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at
1100 am EDT.
Forecaster Brown/Pasch
