By Alabama Public Radio
Miami, FL – Hurricane Ivan could become a serious threat to the U-S. Its projected path could bring it to the Gulf of Mexico within the week. The longer-range forecasts show Ivan crossing western Cuba and going into the Gulf by early Sunday morning. But meteorologists say accurate long-range forecasts are difficult to make. But they say a developing trough over the Gulf of Mexico may have a lot of impact on where Ivan ends up by early next week. So far, the storm's top sustained winds are 115 miles an hour. Hurricane-force winds reach out 70 miles from center, and tropical storm-force winds stretch out 160 miles.