Hurricane Gustav Forms South of Haiti

The National Hurricane Center in Miami posted an interim bulletin, noting that tropical storm Gustav has reached hurricane strength. The NHC has been tracking the storm for several days, as it slowly formed south of the coast of the Dominican Republic.

Gustav’s sustained winds are now near 80mph (130 kph). It is moving slowly south of Haiti. A hurricane watch “remains in effect for Haiti from Le Mole St. Nicholas to the northern Haiti/Dominican Republic border,” said the NHC.

A tropical storm watch is also in effect for Jamaica. On its present track Gustav would pass north of the island. If Gustav maintains its present course, it would enter the Gulf of Mexico by Sunday, and could then pose threat to U.S. coastal areas.

Source: National Hurricane Center – http://www.nhc.noaa.gov