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Storms Flank Florida

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 29, 2008

Florida could be bracketed by hurricanes this weekend as one churns through the Gulf of Mexico and another meanders in the Atlantic Ocean.

Neither is expected to pose a direct threat to the Florida peninsula, but forecasters are unsure where Hanna to the east of us will go after Tuesday, and New Orleans braced on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina for the possibility of a hit from Gustav to the west.

GUSTAV

• Gustav is forecast to strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 115 mph by Monday, when it is in the Gulf of Mexico. It is expected to strike between the Panhandle and east Texas late Monday or early Tuesday.

• It would not have a direct effect on the Tampa Bay area weather, but would create heavy surf and the danger of rip currents Sunday and Monday.

• Gustav could force a change in the NFL's plans to have the Tampa Bay Bucs open the 2008 season in New Orleans. One possibility: Have the Bucs host the season opener Sept. 7 and not play in New Orleans until Nov. 30.

HANNA

• The tropical storm in the Atlantic Ocean is forecast to become a hurricane by Sunday. It should head toward the northwest, then west.

• Forecasters say the track next week is "riddled with uncertainty."

Keyword: Weather, to get updates, track the storms and see satellite and radar images.

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