Based on the latest information from a Hurricane Hunter Aircraft early this morning, Gustav is beginning to strengthen as it nears Jamaica in the Caribbean. Maximum sustained winds are now 70 mph.

As of 8 a.m. EDT, the center of Gustav was located about 80 miles east Kingston, Jamaica, and was moving slowly southwest. Given a recent movement and redevelopment in a more southerly direction, it now appears the center of Gustav will past east, and perhaps south of Jamaica today, before turning back to the west.

Regardless if the center misses a direct hit on Jamaica, heavy rain and the threat for flash flooding will increase over Jamaica today, along with gusty winds and increased surf.

Gustav is forecast to make a turn in a more westerly direction, and eventually a west-northwest to northwest direction over the next few days. It is also forecast to continue to strengthen, and will likely be at hurricane strength, if not today, as it approaches the Cayman Islands later Friday.Gustav is then forecast to enter the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend, and continue tracking northwest or north. It could threaten some part of the US Gulf Coast by Labor Day

There is still some uncertainty regarding Gustav's future strength; which will likely be fine tuned based on what happens today. It is forecast to be a hurricane as it tracks through the Gulf of Mexico; possibly a major one. All interests along the Gulf Coast should pay very close attention to this potentially dangerous storm.

Meanwhile, a low pressure located several hundred miles east-northeast of the Leeward Islands has become Tropical Depression Eight as of early this morning. Continued strengthening is forecast, with it likely becoming Tropical Storm Hanna today.

It is forecast to track northwest into the weekend, and become a hurricane by late this weekend. For now, it does not appear to be of any threat to land, but will need to be closely monitored beyond this weekend.Elsewhere in the Atlantic basin, a tropical wave was also located a few hundred miles west of the Cape Verde Islands. It remains disorganized for now, but it may begin to organize in the next few days. It will continue to be monitored as it moves westward.