Gustav Slams Jamaica as Gulf Coast Braces

(NEWSER) - Gustav grew into a fierce Category 4 hurricane and slammed into Cuba this afternoon as the nation scrambled to evacuate its most populated areas, the AP reports. The storm, which had been upgraded to a Category 3 just hours earlier, now has 145mph winds and remains on path to hit the Gulf Coast on Monday. In New Orleans, lines at bus stations are growing, and highway traffic is thick. The city hasn't ordered a mandatory evacuation, but it's helping the elderly and most vulnerable get out. More»

Expected to make landfall later today

(NEWSER) - Hurricane Gustav is expected to make landfall in Haiti later today, Bloomberg reports, buffeting a country already hard hit by Tropical Storm Fay earlier this month. Gustav was upgraded from a tropical storm earlier this morning, after strengthening over the Caribbean. The National Hurricane Center said that preparations should “be rushed to completion,” warning of possible “life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.” More»

43,000 New Englanders lose power in winds up to 70 mph

(NEWSER) - New England was only hit with the remnants of Hurricane Noel, but that was enough to cut power for about 43,000 people, with winds howling up to 70 mph. Massachusetts felt the brunt of the storm, with Cape Cod and coastal communities suffering most of the outages. The storm then continued up into Nova Scotia, where 100,000 were still without power today, reports Reuters. More»

Next stop: Hispaniola

(AP) - Hurricane Irene cut power to more than a million people in Puerto Rico, downing trees and flooding streets, before heading out over warm ocean water today on a path that could take it to the US mainland by the end of the week. There were no reports of deaths or major injuries in Puerto Rico, but Gov. Luis Fortuno declared a state of emergency and urged people to stay indoors to avoid downed power lines, flooded streets, and other hazards. More»

Now Josephine's waiting in the wings

(NEWSER) - Two major storms are churning across the Atlantic, with their chances of striking the US still unclear. Hurricane Ike has rapidly strengthened to a raging Category 4, while Tropical Storm Hanna is now battering the Bahamas after killing 26 in Haiti. Hanna could hit the US Saturday anywhere between Georgia and North Carolina, reports AP. Ike’s path is still uncertain. More»