11 p.m. update - Gustav draws bead on U.S. Gulf Coast

NEWS RELEASE

U.S. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER

************************* GUSTAV CLOSING IN ON THE NORTHERN GULF COAST.

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM JUST EAST OF HIGH ISLAND TEXAS EASTWARD TO THE ALABAMA-FLORIDA BORDER, INCLUDING THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN.

PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM EAST OF THE ALABAMA-FLORIDA BORDER TO THE OCHLOCKONEE RIVER. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA, INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS, PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE. AT 1000 PM CDT, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE GUSTAV WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 27.3 NORTH - LONGITUDE 88.1 WEST - OR ABOUT 220 MILES (360 KM) SOUTHEAST OF NEW ORLEANS LOUISIANA AND ABOUT 310 MILES (500 KM) SOUTHEAST OF LAFAYETTE LOUISIANA. THIS POSITION IS ALSO ABOUT 180 MILES (285 KM) SOUTHEAST OF PORT FOURCHON ALONG THE LOUISIANA COAST. GUSTAV IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 16 MPH (26 KM/HR) AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE PRIOR TO LANDFALL.

ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER OF GUSTAV WOULD REACH THE NORTHERN GULF COAST DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS TOMORROW.

A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR ON TUESDAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 115 MPH (185 KM/HR) WITH HIGHER GUSTS.

GUSTAV IS A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE.

A LITTLE STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE PRIOR TO LANDFALL. GUSTAV IS A LARGE TROPICAL CYCLONE.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES (110 KM) FROM THE CENTER AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 220 MILES (350 KM). THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE ESTIMATED FROM NOAA AIRCRAFT RECONNAISSANCE DATA WAS 954 MB (28.17 INCHES). AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM SURGE OF 10 TO 14 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDAL LEVELS IS EXPECTED NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF WHERE THE CENTER OF GUSTAV CROSSES THE COAST. GUSTAV IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES OVER PORTIONS OF LOUISIANA, SOUTHERN AND WESTERN MISSISSIPPI, ARKANSAS AND NORTHEASTERN TEXAS WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF UP TO 20 INCHES POSSIBLE THROUGH WEDNESDAY. ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE CENTRAL GULF COAST TONIGHT. ***************************