Dangerous Hurricane Gustav Approaches Cuba, Heading for U.S. Landfall Monday

Hurricane Gustav strengthened rapidly overnight and is now a Category 3 storm with maximum winds of 125 mph. It's approaching western Cuba on a northwesterly path at 14 mph. The current track will bring Gustav into the Gulf of Mexico by early Sunday and to a landfall on the northern Gulf Coast Monday morning. Although the storm's strength is likely to fluctuate crossing Cuba, further intensification is likely in the Gulf. The National Hurricane Center is predicting that Gustav will reach a maximum strength of Category 4.

A Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect for the lower Florida Keys, and a Hurricane Warning remains in effect for portions of western Cuba.

Images: Gustav satellite view from The Weather Channel (upper), Gustav track forecast from National Hurricane Center (lower)