Mt Shasta sunset by Chris Tatro (www.sendoutcards.com/site)

Gustav, staff of the gods, has veered West of New Orleans, and that’s a good thing by most accounts. His impatience to make landfall lost the dude some strength, so he’s been downgraded to a category 2 hurricane.

What tropical cyclone is next on the horizon, I wonder? That’s easy to find out. First, though, you ought to check out this Western Hemisphere Satellite Map full of tropical depressions and tropical cyclones. It’s rather awesome!

Then there’s the Western Pacific Global Satellite Map. Equally awesome! And for heaven’s sake, don’t leave out the Tropical Atlantic Satellite, and the South Pole Infrared Satellite Image while you’re there, just for kicks.

Speaking of kicks, Tropical Storm Hannah is next on the horizon—more specifically, the East Coast horizon. And let us not forget Tropical Storm #9 soon to be named “Ike”.

5 Day Forecast for Hanna compliments of Weather Underground.

For a full update on the Atlantic Basin click here. All hail to AccuWeather.com! (No pun intended.)

Happy tales,

Laura signing off.