the rnc and the corporate media need to tamp down the FUD and the hype

This morning, as Hurricane Gustav nears Louisiana, its eastern eyewall — normally the fiercest part of a hurricane — has vanished, along with much of the rest of the storm’s eastern and southern core. This is, again, the portion of the storm that will come closest to New Orleans.

OBSERVATIONS FROM AN AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT GUSTAV IS NOT STRENGTHENING.

THE EYE WALL IS OPEN OVER THE SOUTHERN SEMICIRCLE…PERHAPS DUE TO THE MID- TO UPPER-LEVEL DRY AIR INTRUSION FROM THE SOUTH

Gustav is, in fact, weakening. The Hurricane Center’s 115 mph estimate is, as they say, “generous,” and frankly, although I’m generally reluctant to criticize the NHC, I’m not sure what purpose is served at this point by continuing to pretend Gustav is a major hurricane. This is a Category 2 hurricane, as it has been for most, if not all, of the last 24 hours.
That said, Gustav will still bring significant storm-surge flooding to the Houma area and environs along the east-central Louisiana coast. It may yet cause some flooding in New Orleans, particularly on the West Bank, depending on how the levees hold up. And it’s not like Category 2 winds are a pleasant day in the park. This will be a hellish morning and afternoon for folks in southeastern Louisiana.