Gustav has blown up into a category 3 hurricane overnight. Right now forecasters are predicting a landfall in Louisiana early Tuesday morning. 3 more days to suck power from the Gulf. We've lost track of the article we read recently about Loop Current eddies. Apparently there is one near the predicted path of Gustav which may contribute to it's strengthening.
From The National Hurricane Center:
DATA FROM AN AIR FORCE RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE CONTINUED TO INCREASE AND ARE NOW NEAR 120
MPH...195 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. GUSTAV IS A DANGEROUS CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE. GUSTAV IS EXPECTED TO PASS OVER WESTERN CUBA AS A MAJOR HURRICANE...AND COULD REACH CATEGORY FOUR STATUS BEFORE MAKING LANDFALL THERE. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE OVER THE SOUTHERN GULF OF MEXICO.
GUSTAV IS A LARGE TROPICAL CYCLONE. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 60 MILES...95 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 160 MILES...260 KM.
THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE BASED ON REPORTS FROM BOTH AIR FORCE AND NOAA RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT IS 955 MB...28.20 INCHES.
Coyote Gulch urges everyone in the predicted path to get out of it's way. Now. Today.
As Gustav bears down on the Gulf Coast here's a look back at Katrina along with advice for those that choose to live along the Gulf, from Grist.
"cc"
7:18:10 AM 
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