Hurricane Gustav Update

As it heads toward New Orleans, Hurricane Gustav has lost a bit of strength (winds from 150mph to 110mph) -- still strong enough to do major damage.  The National Hurricane Center reports:

"At 800 am [central time]... the center of Hurricane Gustav was located.. about 80 miles... south-southwest of New Orleans Louisiana and about 130 miles... southeast of Lafayette Louisiana.  This position is also about 20 miles... southwest of Port Fourchon along the Louisiana coast."

"Gustav is moving toward the northwest near 16 mph... and this motion is expected to continue for the next day or so with some decrease in forward speed and a gradual turn toward the west-northwest on Tuesday.  On the forecast track... the center will cross the Louisiana coast by midday today."

According to CNN, hurricane force winds have already "slammed" into oil terminals near Port Fourchon:

"The U.S. Department of Energy says 56 percent of the imported and Gulf of Mexico oil entering the United States passes this point."

Parts of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi are under tornado warnings.  Memeorandum has commentary.