The hurricane will pass over western Cuba later in the day, move into the southern Gulf of Mexico early Sunday, and into the central Gulf by early Monday, according to forecasters. Gustav could make landfall as a Category 3 or 4 on the U.S. Gulf Coast late Monday or Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said.

The storm called up uneasy memories Friday of the deadly 2005 hurricane season — particularly of Katrina — as Gulf Coast residents found themselves preparing for Gustav on the third anniversary of that devastating storm, August 29.