(August, 27 2008) – Tropical Storm Gustav has stalled in the Caribbean, after hitting Haiti as a hurricane.
The National Hurricane Center says the storm could regain hurricane strength later today or tomorrow. It's expected to move slowly west-northwest.
Jamaica has issued a tropical storm warning and also remains under a hurricane watch along with the Cayman Islands. A hurricane warning is posted for parts of Cuba including the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay.
Forecasters say Gustav could turn into a major hurricane and enter the Gulf of Mexico this weekend -- but they're reluctant to predict its path beyond that.
Oil companies ramped up preparations to evacuate some facilities due to the potential of Hurricane Gustav moving into the Gulf of Mexico -- becoming a potential threat to the region's extensive oil and natural gas production.
The prospect of a storm affecting oil production in the gulf already has forced oil prices higher.