Gustav Brings Floods, Death to Hispaniola, Targets Cayman Islands

Tropical Storm Gustav soaked Haiti and the Dominican Republic with heavy rains that triggered flooding and landslides, resulting in at least 22 deaths. The storm then moved out to sea between Jamaica and Cuba, with forecasters predicting that it could strengthen back to hurricane force by Friday and hit the Cayman Islands.

Hurricane watches are in effect for Jamaica and the Caymans, and a tropical storm warning remains in effect for western Cuba.

As of 5 am Thursday the storm's center was located 80 miles east of Kingston, Jamaica and moving southwest at about 8 mph. Maximum sustained winds currently are about 50 mph.

The National Hurricane Center also is tracking Tropical Storm Hannah, the eighth of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season, which has formed east of the Leeward Islands. Forecasters say the storm's current track would take it north of the Caribbean; I will keep you posted on the progress of this storm as well.

Good story on Gustav at MSNBC: Details on preparations in Caymans, Jamaica, more

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