How will Hurricane Gustav affect the gulf coast?

Question

I live in the Florida panhandle. The weather channel said to expect tropical force winds...but I've never been through a Cat 5 before. Are tropical force winds all the same or as the Gustav makes land fall will it start to be like a Cat 1 or higher?

Answer 1

its not hitting florida but it is coming straight to me in east texas.

Answer 2

I dunno, but here in houston it's getting jam packed.......  

Answer 3

any hurricane is dangerous...NEVER TRY TO RIDE OUT A STORM....i live in the rio grande valley(texas)....we all thought that the previous hurricane dolly wasn't going to be a threat to us...but oh how we were wrong...to this day(about a month after doly hit)...there are still cites under water..andtheres is a really big lake..in peoples backyards...every storm will leave distruction...although u are not in the pathway of the hurricane you will recieve some winds and rain...we are experinenceing that at the moment...i just hoe that everyone(whoever stayed behind)is save in new orleans.....

Answer 4

Gustav could do a lot of damage even as a category 1 or 2 hurricane.

Katrina did a ton of damage as a category 3 storm, and New Orleans barely had tropical storm winds. Its the storm surge in the area that does the damage.

Answer 5

As a survivor of many Hurricanes,expect flood waters and lots of wind, I hope you go to a hurricane shelter.

Answer 6

The storm surge is the most damaging aspect of the hurricane to New Orleans even at a category 1 and 2.  The West Bank is the least well-fortified as far as levees go and the storm seemed to be heading in that direction.  

Answer 7

New Orleans is going to be wiped out again.

Answer 8

If you live inland, tropical storm winds are not much to worry about, but if the area where you live tends to flood it might get nasty. Listen to your local authorities. The hurricane path is not completely well defined, and it might take a turn to the west (away from you)once it's in the Gulf, but it might also keep going north (closer to you) .  They expect it to be at least a cat 3 at landfall, which is very destructive. keep an eye on this:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics...

Answer 9

Since you live in the panhandle, you wont get effected as much. You guys are under a tropical storm watch and the winds will make the waves rough. Stay away from the beach!

It will affect the gulf coast by dumping tons of rain into the Louisiana/Mississippi/Texas area, locally 18 inches is what theyre saying cause Gustav is expected to slow down once it makes landfall.  

Answer 10

I live on the Florida panhandle too. I do not think Gustav will affect us much but the winds will be 35 mph. So we will get wind and rain plus rip currents at the beach.

Answer 11

if u live in in the Florida panhandle Ur only goin to get tropical storm force winds that's why Ur under a tropical storm watch.even if a cat 5 comes through u would want to evacuate