R. Reese Fuller

Gustav hits Lafayette as a Category 1

by R. Reese Fuller

The Category 1 hurricane force winds from Hurricane Gustav began pounding Lafayette today around 1:30 p.m., according to Joe Rua, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles. Gustav's sustained winds in Lafayette are around 55 mph, with gusts up to 79 mph.

Rua says that the western portion of Gustav is still battering Lafayette now, although there's not much of an eyewall left to the storm. Gustav is moving northwest at about 15 mph, and Lafayette residents can expect to feel the gusts of the storm through 7 p.m. this evening.