Monday PM Forecast Update

Hurricane Gustav made landfall earlier today, so now our attention is focused on the next potential threat to the United States, and that is Hurricane Hanna.
Hanna became the 4th hurricane of the 2008 hurricane season.  It is not unusual to see storms pop up this month, since September is typically our busiest
tropical month.  The peak of hurricane season is September 10th, so we have not even reached the highest frequency day yet.  Computer models continue to indicate a threat to the Carolinas, possibly as early as Thursday afternoon or evening.  The official forecast strengthens Hanna into a category 2 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale.  Winds could be close to 100 mph, with gusts around 120 mph.  A typical storm surge for a category 2 storm is 6-8 ft.  We will continue to monitor the progress of Hanna.