Gustav and the "wow" factor

The satellite presentation of Gustav this afternoon is absolutely incredible. Unfortunately Isla de Juventud y La Habana, Cuba, are going to get pummeled with a very powerful hurricane. In the 24-hr period ending 200 pm today, Gustav's minimum pressure dropped from 984 to 945, or 39 mb in 24 hrs. Additionally, the track has been slightly right of forecast-- right of all the available guidance (except, curiously, climatology CLIPPER, haha!) This wobble (if it is a wobble!) bodes poorly for both Cuba and New Orleans. Without a compensating left-of-track (westward) wobble, the storm will come closer to MSY than previously predicted.

I attach one of these very impressive satellite images. Wow, indeed.