Tropical Storm Hanna Forms North of the Leeward Islands

If Tropical Storm (soon to be a hurricane again) Gustav wasn't enough, Tropical Storm Hanna has formed north of the Bahamas. Boaters along the Gulf Coast and the East Coast now should all be on high alert for these two storms, and the other three tropical disturbances the National Hurricane Center is currently watching.

Jeff Masters at the Weather Underground says, "The final landfall location of Gustav depends on the strength and speed of the trough. This trough may not be strong enough to pull Gustav to a landfall in the central Gulf Coast. Instead, a blocking ridge of high pressure may build in over the southern U.S. by Monday, forcing Gustav to move slowly westward towards Texas. The ridge will at least slow Gustav down, and the long term fate of Gustav remains highly uncertain." Masters goes on to say that Gustav will likely be a Category Four Hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico and make landfall as a Category TWo or Three storm. Remember that when Hurricane Katrina made landfall, it was a Category Three storm.

As for Tropical Storm Hanna, it's also too early to tell, but forecasters predict the storm will strengthen into a hurricane and will most likely affect the Bahamas and possibly Cuba and Florida. Again, that prediction can change within hours depending upon atmospheric conditions.