CENTER OF GUSTAV PASSING JUST EAST OF CAPE HATTERAS

September 10, 2002 — At 5 p.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Gustav was located near latitude 35.3 north, longitude 75.3 west or about 20 miles east-northeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C. Gustav is moving toward the north near 12 mph. A turn toward the northeast at a faster forward speed is expected Tuesday night. This motion should keep the center near the North Carolina Outer Banks early Tuesday night then move Gustav away from the U.S. coast later Tuesday night, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Gustav taken at 11:15 a.m. EDT on Sept. 10, 2002. Click here to see latest view. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours, and Gustav could become a hurricane on Wednesday. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles from the center. Estimated minimum central pressure is 984 mb, 29.06 inches. The automated station at Diamond Shoals, N.C., recently reported a pressure of 984.8 mb, 29.08 inches.

Storm surge flooding of up to 5 feet above normal tide levels is possible in the south end of Pamlico Sound. Storm surge flooding of 1 to 3 feet above normal tide levels is possible elsewhere in the warning area. This flooding should diminish later Tuesday night. High surf and dangerous rip currents are expected along the U.S. East Coast from New York southward to the northern Florida coast Tuesday night. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Gustav taken at 4:15 p.m. EDT on Sept. 10, 2002.)

Additional rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches are possible over portions of eastern North Carolina Tuesday with 1 to 2 inches over portions of southeastern Virginia. Isolated tornadoes are possible over portions of extreme northeastern North Carolina Tuesday night.

All warnings are discontinued west of Bogue Inlet, N.C. A tropical storm warning remains in effect from Bogue Inlet to Parramore Island, Va., including the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds, and the southern Chesapeake Bay south of New Point Comfort, Va.

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Frank Lepore, NOAA's National Hurricane Center, (305) 229-4404