South America

Weather Underground Forecast for Thursday, August 28, 2008.

Hurricane Gustav is expected to strengthen into a Category 2 hurricane on Thursday as it moves northwestward through the Windward Passage. Gustav is not expected to make landfall with Cuba, but heavy rain, thunderstorms and high winds are expected to reach into the country. Gustav is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches over eastern Cuba, Hispaniola, and Jamaica, with isolated maximum amounts of up to 20 inches of rain. These rains are likely to produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. Coastal storm surge flooding of 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels along with large waves are expected in areas of onshore winds in the hurricane warning area.

Another low pressure system, located several hundred miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands, will remain under close observation as atmospheric conditions become more conducive for the system to develop into a tropical cyclone on Thursday. The system will continue moving slowly northwestward.

Next, a tropical wave located just southwest of the Cape Verde Islands will continue to produce unorganized clouds and showers as it moves westward. Conditions will be favorable for slow tropical cyclone development on Thursday.

Finally an area of showers and thunderstorms located several hundred miles south of the Bermuda will remain under watch on Thursday. The low pressure system is not anticipated to develop into a tropical cyclone.

Elsewhere, seasonal showers are expected to persist. The highest amounts of precipitation are expected to fall in southern Mexico and Costa Rica.

In South America, rain is expected in Venezuela, Colombia, and northwestern Brazil on Thursday. Showers are also expected in northeastern Argentina, and will push through Uruguay and southeastern Brazil. Meanwhile, southern Chile and Argentina will continue to see a combination of rain and snow on Thursday.