Tropical Storm Gustav weakened to a tropical depression

Tropical Storm Gustav weakened to a tropical depression on 2 September 2008. As of 0900 UTC, the depression was located approximately 135 mi/215 km northwest of Lafayette, Louisiana. The depression has maximum sustained winds of near 35 mph/56 kt with higher gusts and is moving northwest at 10 mph/16 kt. The storm is expected to produce significant rainfall over portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. According to meteorologists at Wilkens Weather Technologies, the storm will weaken as it moves into northeastern Texas over the next 24 hours. Louisiana state officials plan to announce on 2 September the details of a re-entry plan for the more than 2 million people who evacuated. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has instructed evacuees not to return yet. The city is still assessing damage and is in the process of restoring power and repairing the sewer system. Authorities will likely not allow evacuees to return until 3 September at the earliest. More than 780,000 people remain without power in Louisiana and Mississippi. Authorities have not yet announced when Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (KMSY/MSY) will reopen.