Gustav becomes a hurricane

MIAMI, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Gustav regained hurricane strength Friday afternoon as it moved from Jamaica to the Caymans.

A hurricane warning was in effect for the Cayman Islands and for much of western Cuba, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. A tropical storm warning was in effect for Jamaica and central Cuba, and a tropical storm warning was posted for the lower Florida Keys and the Dry Tortugas.

At 11 p.m. EDT, the center of Gustav was 25 miles west-southwest of Little Cayman, 55 miles east-northeast of Grand Cayman and about 330 miles east-southeast of the western tip of Cuba. Maximum sustained winds had increased to almost 80 mph with higher gusts.

Hurricane force winds extended 60 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds up to 160 miles.

Gustav is a Category 1 hurricane and is expected to gain strength Saturday and Sunday.

The storm was moving toward the northwest at about 10 mph. Gustav was expected to hit the Caymans late Friday and Cuba Saturday before heading for the Gulf Coast of the United States Saturday night or Sunday.

CNN said authorities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Alabama activated storm plans Thursday since the storm could hit anywhere between Corpus Christi, Texas, and Panama City, Fla. Preparations included evacuating several thousand people living in trailers after their homes were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina three years ago.

Amtrak announced Friday that it was suspending rail service into and out of New Orleans at least through next Thursday. President Bush declared a state of emergency in Louisiana and Texas.