How long before the hurricane will die out after it reaches landfall in LA?

Question

I am in the Houston area and want to know what to expect? I don't fully understand the whole projected path thing. I see that we are like on the outside of the cone, but what does that mean?

Answer 1

Based on the current track projection, Houston will likely see periods of gusty winds and heavy rain from Gustav.  Once Gustav makes landfall, the winds will weaken, BUT the heavy rainfall could persist for many days as the remnant circulation will be slow to dissipate and may hang around over eastern Texas through early next week.  

Being on the outside of the cone simply means you are on the edge of the POSSIBILITY for the center to be in your area. This is done due to the uncertainty of the exact track.

Answer 2

I'm no weather expert, but I'm a life-long resident of the Texas Gulf Coast and I've never left for a hurricane.  I live in Houston and can tell you what to expect if a category 3 hurricane hits New Orleans.  Moderate to heavy rain.  Moderate wind.  Being on the southwest side of the storm is the safest. If we were on the northeast side of the storm, it would be a different matter.  We would have much more wind and likely more rain.  The category of the storm is not a pedictor of what will occur upon landfall.  A category 3 could hit with a lot of wind and not much rain.  Then again, it could hit with the same winds and 10 inches of rain.  Winds are much more predictable than rains.  I know how much wind I can survive.  I never know how much rain a storm will bring.  In Houston, we will get rain on Monday and probably light wind.  Flooding is the only risk and it applies mostly to low-lying areas.  I've never been flooded.  Depends on where you live in town.  By Tuesday evening, it will be back to Texas summer weather.