down to Cat 2

[wilt the stilt]

woo! hoo!, please drop even more. Please going even further west to some rural area. Please make McCain and the repubs look like jerks. Sounds like he won't be able to give his speech from the disaster area. I hope that New Orleans is spared. It looks that way.

[Epiphany4z]

1. that is good news

lets hope it get weaker..minimal damage..no life lost...the best possible outcome.

[DarthDem]

2. Wonderful News

That's great.

[HughMoran]

3. So far looks like it's sliding west along the coast

It looks like Gustav won't excessively damage New Orleans - assuming the surge isn't too bad now.

[wurzel]

4. Was this storm hyped from the start.?

While I see tracks of the storm constantly being compared I haven't seen actual photographs of the two storms compared. I never saw an eye in Gustav like I saw in Katrina. These radar images can be very deceiving. They really only compare physical size rather than intensity. I get the feeling we have been had again.

[madrchsod]

5. i`m no expert but i think if the storm would have hit later in the day

or had been slower then it would have been bigger. it always looked like it was sliding to the west.

thank mother earth for sparing this part of the country more heartbreak.

[Breeze54]

9. the center of Gustav 85 miles south of New Orleans, moving northwest at about 16 mph....

The National Hurricane Center's latest report has the center of Gustav 85 miles south of New Orleans,
moving northwest at about 16 mph. Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph, with no strengthening
expected before landfall.

FEMA Deputy Director Harvey E. Johnson said the eye of the storm is expected to pass west of New Orleans,
but its surge will likely overtop levees and at least partially flood the city that was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

[LynneSin]

6. At one point Gustav was a Cat 5

but I am so grateful this thing downgraded and looks to be nowhere near a Cat2. But the pukes got what they want out of it - an excuse as to why their Convention wouldn't be half as good and an excuse to keep Bush & Cheney out of the convention.

[Breeze54]

10. Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale - Category 2

Category 2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffir-Simpson_Hurricane_Scale#Category_2

Storms of this intensity damage some roofing material, and also produce damage to poorly constructed doors and windows. Considerable damage is caused to vegetation, poorly constructed signs, and piers. Mobile homes, whether anchored or not, are usually badly damaged, and many manufactured homes also suffer structural damage. Also, small craft in unprotected anchorages may break their moorings.<8>

Hurricanes that peaked at Category 2 intensity, and made landfall while still in that category include:
Carol (1954), Diana (1990), Erin (1995), Hurricane Marty, Hurricane Juan (2003), and Hurricane Dolly (2008).

All of the above caused severe damage in the millions!

[madokie]

7. Good news

all around. re:puke: and all

[Breeze54]

8. It still has 115 mph winds and lots of rain!!

It's the ocean surge and the rain that'll be the issue.

[amuse bouche]

11. That's good news but there are 3 more coming behind Gustav