A hurricane warning is in effect for Jamaica and for all the Cayman Islands while a tropical storm warning is in effect for the Cuban Province of Granma.

Interests in central and western Cuba should closely monitor the progress of Gustav.

At 1100 am EDT...1500Z...the centre of tropical storm Gustav was located near latitude 17.9 north...longitude 76.1 west or about 45 miles (75 km) east of Kingston, Jamaica and about 350 miles (560 km) east-southeast of Grand Cayman.

Gustav is moving toward the west near 5 mph (7km/hr) and a continued westward motion with a gradual increase in foward speed is expected today.  A turn toward the west-northwest and northwest is forecast during the next couple of days.  On this track, the centre of Gustav will move near or over Jamaica today and tonight and near or over the Cayman Islands Friday night.

Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph (110km/hr) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forcast during the next couple of days.  Gustav could become a hurricane before moving over Jamaica.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 60 miles or 95km from the centre.

The estimated minimum central pressure based on earlier aircraft data is 983 mb (29.03 inches).

Gustav is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches across Jamaica and the Cayman Islands with isolated maximum amounts of up to 25 inches possible.  These rains will likely produce life threatening flash floods and mud slides.  Rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are possible over southern Cuba.  Rainfall will be diminishing over Haiti today with an additional 1 to 2 inches of rainfall possible.

Coastal storm surge flooding of 1 to 3 feet above normal tide levels can be expected in areas of onshore winds in the hurricane warning area.