US monitors new storms after Gustav hits Gulf coast

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2008

MIAMI (AFP) — US officials were keeping a close eye Tuesday on three tropical storms posing potential threats after deadly Hurricane Gustav battered the US Gulf Coast.

A forecaster with the National Hurricane Center called the clutch of three storms marching across the Atlantic at one time "not particularly unusual."

"We are at the peak of hurricane season," Jessica Schauer Clark told AFP, as the tenth tropical depression of the season picked up wind speed Tuesday and became a tropical storm dubbed Josephine.

Hurricane Hanna lost some wind strength and was downgraded to a tropical storm with driving rains that could spark deadly flooding in Haiti and eastern Cuba, the National Hurricane Center warned.

With Hanna packing sustained winds of 70 miles...