The Full Force of Hurricane Gustav in Louisiana

My chase partners (Jim Leonard and Mike Laca) and I intercepted Hurricane Gustav in Morgan City, Louisiana beginning on the morning of September 1st. We experienced wind gusts around 100mph and moderate structural damage. The strongest wind gusts I filmed were around 2:30 and were probably a little over 100mph.

After the eye began to pass over us, we decided to drive NW back through the eyewall again so we could experience the winds at our Hotel in the inland city of Lafayette. The drive through the blinding winds and rain was scary as $#^&! Back at our hotel the winds gusted to 70-80mph. Then the calm eye passed over in the early evening. The second half of the storm had deteriorated as dry air wrapped its way into the hurricane so the second half of the eyewall contained only 40mph wind gusts and little to no rain.

The quality of this video is very poor in relation to how it looks in high quality. I apologize for some of the shaky camera work in the beginning.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• hurricane
• gustav
• morgan
• city
• lafayette
• louisiana
• winds
• damage
• category

[mjfrancis526]

this is amazing! i live about 8 miles away from morgan city in patterson. our trailer got its roof ripped off. sadly we had to get it torn down.

[CyrusNixes]

That's terrible. You were in the area that got hit the worst. Hopefully you found a new place to live.

[liquidstl]

Wait What secret? btw looks like Ike may make landfall too soon. Josephine or some later storm may have to suffice

[CyrusNixes]

Too soon?? Its going to be perfect - hopefully it will pass right over us (or better yet just north so my place isn't destroyed) as a cat 4.

[TyphoonHunter]

Awesome video from a great chase team. Well done guys!

[CyrusNixes]

Thanks! It was my first 'cane but definitely not my last.

[danielav9]

beautiful! hail nature!

[tiadancestar]

@Stormfreak1234 i saw about 5 trees that fell in this vid

[Fezztecfilms]

We have frequent gales that are wind speeds around 40mph?

I almost blow away when those gusts coming rolling at me... so what would a hurricane do to me! :O

[CyrusNixes]

Ya, the trees held up pretty well. The wind seemed so violent, yet they were only Cat 1 strength.

I did manage to get one tree snapping - at 2:31 you can see the tree in the center break apart in the high gust.

[54spiritedwill54]

wow incredible gust on 1:46! awesome footage indeed

[mjfrancis526]

thanks for your concern. happily we've got a new home just around the corner from where our old home was.

[bumptybu]

Fantastic Footage !

[rm7516]

wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!