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Tropical Storm Public Advisory

Statement as of 2:00 PM EDT on August 30, 2008

...Gustav becomes an extremely dangerous category four hurricane...
...Western eyewall directly impacting the Isle of Youth...

a Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the Cuban provinces of
Pinar del Rio...la Habana...Ciudad de la Habana...Isla de
Juventud...Matanzas...and Cienfuegos. Preparations to protect life
and property in the Hurricane Warning area should have already been
completed.

A Hurricane Watch remains in effect for the central Cuban province
of Villa Clara.

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the central Cuban
provinces of Villa Clara...Sancti Spiritus...Ciego de Avila...and
Camaguey...and for the lower Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile
Bridge to Dry Tortugas.

Interests in the Gulf of Mexico and the northern Gulf Coast should
closely monitor the progress of Gustav. A Hurricane Watch could be
issued for portions of the northern Gulf Coast later today.

For storm information specific to your area...please monitor
products issued by your local weather office.

At 200 PM EDT...1800z...the eye of Hurricane Gustav was located
near latitude 21.6 north...longitude 82.5 west...near the Isle of
Youth...or about 155 miles...250 km...east of the western tip of
Cuba and about 110 miles...180 km...south of Havana Cuba.

Gustav is moving toward the northwest near 14 mph...22 km/hr...and
this general motion is expected to continue during the next couple
of days. On this track...the center of Gustav will pass over
western portions of Cuba today and tonight...then emerge over the
southern Gulf of Mexico early on Sunday...and reach the northern
Gulf by Monday morning.

Data from an Air Force reconnaissance aircraft indicate that maximum
sustained winds have continued to increase and are now near 145
mph...230 km/hr...with higher gusts. Gustav is an extremely
dangerous category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson
hurricane scale. An unofficial observation of a sustained wind of
140 mph...220 km/hr...has been reported along the eastern coast of
the Isle of Youth. Some additional strengthening is forecast
during the next couple of days...and Gustav could become a category
five hurricane either before or shortly after crossing western
Cuba.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 70 miles...110 km...from
the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175
miles...280 km.

The minimum central pressure recently reported by an Air Force
reconnaissance aircraft was 945 mb...27.91 inches.

Coastal storm surge flooding of 18 to 23 feet above normal tide
levels...along with large and dangerous battering waves...is
possible near where the center of Gustav crosses western
Cuba...including the Isle of Youth. Storm surge of 1 to 3 feet
above normal tide levels is possible in the Dry Tortugas as Gustav
passes to its west.

Gustav is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 6 to
12 inches across the Cayman Islands...and central and western
Cuba...with isolated maximum amounts of up to 25 inches possible.
These rains will likely produce life-threatening flash floods and
mud slides. Rainfall of 1 to 3 inches is possible over Florida Keys
and extreme South Florida by Sunday morning.

Repeating the 200 PM EDT position...21.6 N...82.5 W. Movement
toward...northwest near 14 mph. Maximum sustained winds...145 mph.
Minimum central pressure...945 mb.

The next complete advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane
Center at 500 PM EDT.

$$
Forecaster Knabb