NOAA AND AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT INDICATE GUSTAV HAS STRENGTHENED AND ACCELERATED

September 11, 2002 — At 5 p.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Gustav was located near latitude 41.2 north, longitude 65.7 west or about 275 miles south-southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Gustav is now moving toward the northeast near 38 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Gustav taken at 4:45 p.m. EDT on Sept. 11, 2002. Click here to see latest view. Please credit “NOAA.”)

On this track, Gustav will move near the Canadian Maritimes Wednesday night as it transforms into a huge extratropical storm. The Canadian government is issuing a heavy rain threat for all of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, northwestern Newfoundland and southern New Brunswick, along with high wind warnings for many of these areas.

Maximum sustained winds are now near 90 mph with higher gusts. Some weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours as Gustav loses its tropical characteristics. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 85 miles to south of the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 260 miles mainly to the southeast of the center.

The latest minimum central pressure reported by an Air Force Reserve “hurricane hunter” aircraft is 964 mb, 28.47 inches. NOAA buoy 44011 recently reported a pressure of 972.4 mb, 28.71 inches.

Click NOAA tracking map for larger view.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's National Hurricane Center — Get the latest advisories here

El Niño Expected to Impact Atlantic Hurricane Season, NOAA Reports

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

NOAA's River Forecast Centers

NOAA's Flood Products

NOAA Rainfall Graphics
24-hour Observed Precipitation as of 8 a.m. today

Latest rainfall data as of 8 a.m. EDT today

NOAA Buoys

NOAA Satellite Images — The latest satellite views

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NOAA 3-D Satellite Images

NOAA's Hurricanes Page

NOAA's Storm Watch — Get the latest severe weather information across the USA

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