Hurricane Gustav (2008)

Basin

North Atlantic

Dates

August 25, 2008 to September 5, 2008

Peak strength

Category 4, 135 kt (155 mph)

Lowest pressure

941 mb (27.79 inHg)

Landfall

Yes

Accumulated cyclone energy

18.2

Tropical-storm-force wind reached

220 nmi (407 km, 253 mi) from the center at its widest

Hurricane-force wind reached

70 nmi (130 km, 81 mi) from the center at its widest

Eyewall radius at its peak

15 nmi (28 km, 17 mi)

Overall size

275 nmi (509 km, 316 mi) to the outermost closed isobar

Peak gust in the best track

155 kt (178 mph)

Fastest the center moved

26 kt (30 mph)

Identifier

AL072008

Radar at KHDC as it neared land, Sep 1, 15:00 UTC

The sources count different things and are not added together.

Landfall points the US agencies flagged in the best track. The nearest town is named from the site’s gazetteer, not from the report.

NOAA’s Storm Events database, the record National Weather Service offices compile months after a storm, as compiled March 2026.

Deaths

14 (11 direct, 3 indirect)

Injuries

11

Property damage

$1.1 billion

Crop damage

$585 million

Events recorded

374 in 33 reports from 14 states and marine areas

State by state

What was recorded

100 flash flood, 57 tropical storm, 51 tornado, 46 hurricane (typhoon), 34 tropical depression, 26 flood, 25 storm surge/tide, 10 thunderstorm wind, 8 heavy rain, 7 funnel cloud, 3 marine thunderstorm wind, 2 lightning, 2 rip current, 1 waterspout, 1 debris flow, 1 hail.

51 tornadoes and 1 waterspout recorded in the United States, strongest first.

The Weather Prediction Center attributes 4,290 rain gauge totals over the contiguous United States to this storm. The wettest reached 21.00 inches (533 mm).

WPC’s storm rainfall file, 1900 to 2020, compiled by David Roth.

The strongest winds National Weather Service offices recorded with this storm. An estimated figure is a forecaster’s judgment from the damage, not an instrument reading.

From the Storm Events narratives, unedited.

The outer edges of Hurricane Gustav produced easterly winds of 20 knots with higher gusts along the Atlantic coast Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties while Tropical Storm Hanna pushed swells toward the coast as well. This in turn created strong rip currents that drowned a 14 year old boy at John Lloyd State Park in Hollywood. The boy went missing at around 6:30 while swimming with his friend, and was recovered by the U.S. Coast Guard the next morning. The friend was rescued by Ocean Rescue officials and taken to a local hospital. The 12 year old boy was in stable condition.

Coastal Broward County, Florida · Rip Current · Aug 31, 22:30 UTC

Hurricane Gustav moved south and west of coastal Alabama the end of August and the first of September. Only Tropical Storm conditions were felt in coastal Alabama. The storm started impacting coastal Alabama during the evening of August 31 with tropical storm winds moving over the coastal waters. However, the greatest impacts were not felt until the first of September. These impacts will appear in September's Storm Data. Coastal Alabama was put under a Hurricane Watch at 300 PM CST on August 30. This was upgraded to a Hurricane Warning at 300 AM CST on August 31. This hurricane warning remained in effect into the first of September. The only impacts felt across the area in August were above normal tides. These along with the rainfall totals and other impacts will be in September's Storm Data.

Lower Mobile, Alabama · Tropical Storm · Sep 1, 03:00 UTC

Hurricane Gustav moved south and west of coastal Alabama the end of August and the first of September. Only Tropical Storm conditions were felt in coastal Alabama. The storm started impacting coastal Alabama during the evening of August 31. However, the greatest impacts were not felt until the first of September. These impacts will appear in September's Storm Data. Coastal Alabama was put under a Hurricane Watch at 300 PM CST on August 30. This was upgraded to a Hurricane Warning at 300 AM CST on August 31. This hurricane warning remained in effect into the first of September. The only impacts felt across the area in August were above normal tides. These along with the rainfall totals and other impacts will be in September's Storm Data.

Lower Baldwin, Alabama · Tropical Storm · Sep 1, 03:00 UTC

Four to five foot storm tides caused flooding along Alligator Point Road (County Road 370) with one lane of the road washed out at Alligator Point. Bald Point Road was closed. Four to six feet of water flooded back yards about a quarter mile up the Carrabelle River. According to the EMA, the surge heights were similar to those observed with Hurricane Opal. One road on St George Island sustained overwash in four places. One sand dune was lost to the high surf, with minor beach erosion reported elsewhere.

Franklin, Florida · Storm Surge/Tide · Sep 1, 07:00 UTC

As hurricane Gustav moved south of the area, tropical depression conditions spread into southeast Mississippi. The winds increased during the early morning of September 1 and ended during the early afternoon as Gustav moved farther away. No damage was reported from the winds. Several mesonet sites had sustained winds of 20-30 MPH with higher gusts in the south parts of the county. Rainfall estimates across the area were 3-5 inches which resulted in some minor street flooding. Parts of southeast Mississippi were put under a tropical storm wind warning in the early morning hours of August 31 and the warning continued in effect until the late evening of September 1.

Greene, Mississippi · Tropical Depression · Sep 1, 09:00 UTC

As hurricane Gustav moved south of the area, tropical depression conditions spread into southeast Mississippi. The winds increased during the early morning of September 1 and ended during the early afternoon as Gustav moved farther away. No damage was reported from the winds. Several mesonet sites had sustained winds of 20-30 MPH with higher gusts in the south parts of the county. Rainfall estimates across the area were 3-5 inches which resulted in some minor street flooding. Parts of southeast Mississippi were put under a tropical storm wind warning in the early morning hours of August 31 and the warning continued in effect until the late evening of September 1.

Perry, Mississippi · Tropical Depression · Sep 1, 09:00 UTC

Trees were down on a power line in Rockport on Division Street. The police barricaded several highways while trees and power lines were removed. Trees were down in Magnet Cove along Arkansas Highway 171. Arkansas Highways 347, 270, and 84 were blocked by trees over power lines. Trees were down near Malvern. One large tree blocked traffic on Wilson Street near the intersection of Wilson and Pine Bluff Street.

Hot Spring, Arkansas · Tropical Depression · Sep 2, 20:00 UTC

Heavy rainfall fell across all of Tensas Parish as persistent rain bands continued to impact the area from weakening Hurricane Gustav. Rainfall amounts between 9 and 17 inches fell across the parish, mostly during the evening of the 2nd and early morning of the 3rd. Local officials said they have never seen that much rain or water across the parish ever. The flooding was widespread and significant. Numerous roads were flooded with some washed out. Dozens of homes were also flooded across the parish as multiple rounds of heavy rain impacted the area. Agriculture was extremely hard hit as farmland was flooded and crops became water logged. Many areas saw total loss of some crops while other areas experienced very low yields. Cotton, soybeans and sweet potatoes were some of the hardest hit crops.

Tensas, Louisiana · Flash Flood · Sep 3, 04:20 UTC

A strong tornado began near Duralde, and ended near Mamou. Along the way, a home on Valentine Road lost part of its roof, causing one minor injury. A home of Highway 374 was severely damaged when it was knocked off its foundation. Along Duculus Road, two homes lost most of their roofs. One unoccupied, tied-down mobile home was tossed to the northwest over 100 yards and split in half. Another mobile home was thrown in a counter-clockwise motion over 200 yards and was destroyed, resulting in two fatalities and one serious injury. Near the end of the path on Highway 104, a home lost part of its roof. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down along the path.

Evangeline, Louisiana · Tornado · Sep 3, 07:57 UTC

Heavy rainfall from Tropical Depression Gustav caused the third highest crest of record for the Saline River at Benton. Arkansas Highway 5 was flooded as well as several streets in Benton. A manufactured home subdivision flooded with as many as 20 structures affected. Five homes were flooded on River Street and other side streets. A horse farm also flooded with a barn and practice race track damaged.

Saline, Arkansas · Flood · Sep 3, 18:00 UTC

Four to six inches of rain gradually fell over Barry County. A few locations flooded including a section of Farm Road 1230 southwest of Shell Knob, a section of Highway Y at its intersection with Flat Creek, a section of Highway C at its intersection with Flat Creek, and a section of Highway U at its intersection with Flatt Creek.

Barry, Missouri · Flood · Sep 4, 02:00 UTC

A few locations within Pulaski County flooded from rainfall amounts that ranged from four to six inches. These locations included a section of Highway O at its intersection with Jones Creek, a section of Canyon Road at its intersection with Mill Creek, and a section of Highway O southwest of Dixon.

Pulaski, Missouri · Flood · Sep 4, 03:30 UTC

Although this heavy rain event was assigned to Kenosha County, heavy rain did affect part of the following counties in Southcentral or Southeast Wisconsin: Jefferson, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Rock, Walworth, and Racine. Ponding of water on roads and in other low spots was reported in many locations. Rainfall amounts include: 3.14 at the Kenosha Waste Water Treatment Plant (Kenosha Co.), 2.96 in Delavan (Walworth Co.), 2.82 in Wind Point (Racine Co.), 2.56 at the Racine Waste Water Treatment Plant (Racine Co.), 2.50 in Franksville (Racine Co.), 2.20 in Lake Geneva (Walworth Co.), 1.96 at Milwaukee Mitchell Field (KMKE - Milwaukee Co.), 1.93 at 2SSE Waukesha (Waukesha Co.), 1.92 at the NWS Office about 3.8SE of Sullivan (Jeffeson Co.), 1.75 at 2SE Timmerman Field (Milwaukee Co.), and 0.94 at 5SW Madison Capitol Square (Dane Co.).

Kenosha, Wisconsin · Heavy Rain · Sep 4, 13:00 UTC

A tornado touched down approximately 5 miles northwest of Wheatfield near the Oak Heritage Estates. This tornado caused structual damage to one mobile home, damage to multiple trees and corn fields. Damage began southwest of the intersection of North 450 West and Hawthorn Road, where a 10 yard wide path of corn stalks was completely flattened in a convergent manner. Damage continued where a roof was lifted off a mobile home and thrown into the yard. Also at this location, two trees were completely uprooted. Along the path of this tornado, the tops of many trees had sheared limbs along with scattered debris ranging from toys to trash bins.

Jasper, Indiana · Tornado · Sep 4, 21:49 UTC

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• Hurricane BerthaNorth Atlantic · 2008Cat 3110 kt · 952 mb
• Tropical Storm CristobalNorth Atlantic · 2008Tropical Storm55 kt · 998 mb
• Hurricane DollyNorth Atlantic · 2008Cat 285 kt · 963 mb
• Tropical Storm EdouardNorth Atlantic · 2008Tropical Storm55 kt · 996 mb
• Tropical Storm FayNorth Atlantic · 2008Tropical Storm60 kt · 986 mb
• Hurricane HannaNorth Atlantic · 2008Cat 175 kt · 977 mb
• Hurricane IkeNorth Atlantic · 2008 · 195 deaths · $38 billionCat 4125 kt · 935 mb
• Tropical Storm JosephineNorth Atlantic · 2008Tropical Storm55 kt · 994 mb
• Hurricane KyleNorth Atlantic · 2008Cat 175 kt · 984 mb
• Hurricane LauraNorth Atlantic · 2008Cat 170 kt · 990 mb
• Tropical Storm MarcoNorth Atlantic · 2008Tropical Storm55 kt · 998 mb
• Tropical Storm NanaNorth Atlantic · 2008Tropical Storm35 kt · 1004 mb
• Hurricane OmarNorth Atlantic · 2008Cat 4115 kt · 958 mb
• Unnamed tropical depressionNorth Atlantic · 2008Tropical Depression25 kt · 1004 mb
• Hurricane PalomaNorth Atlantic · 2008 · 19 deathsCat 4125 kt · 944 mb

A best track is the record a warning agency settles on after the storm, not what it said at the time: position, maximum sustained wind and central pressure every six hours, revised against every observation that came in later. Category is the Saffir-Simpson scale, which runs from Category 1 at 64 kt to Category 5 at 137 kt and reads wind only, so it says nothing about surge or rain. Accumulated cyclone energy adds up the square of the wind through the storm's life, so it counts strength and duration together.

Storm history from NOAA NCEI’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), which merges the official best track of every warning agency. Live storms, cones, watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived radar from NOAA’s Level II archive.

• Tropical cyclone report, National Hurricane Center
• Every advisory and discussion NHC issued while it was live
• Wikipedia article: Hurricane Gustav