Forecasters said Tropical Storm Gustav could develop into thefirst major hurricane of this season to strike the U.S. coast onthe Gulf of Mexico.

Gustav has already battered Haiti with torrential rains takingas many as 16 lives.

The storm was expected to move away from Haiti and move westwardbetween Cuba and Jamaica as the National Weather Service issuedhurricane watches and warnings for the region.

As it passed Cuba, the storm was expected to strengthen into ahurricane.

The storm is not expected to intensify significantly until itenters the Gulf of Mexico, where it is expected to possibly becomea Category 3 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale with sustained windsof 111 mph or higher. A five-day tracking forecast of the storm hasit making landfall anywhere from the Florida panhandle west toTexas, with Louisiana right in the middle of the storms projectedpath.

That probability was enough for Louisiana Insurance CommissionerJim Donelon to announce he would hold a press conference tomorrowat department headquarters in Baton Rouge “to discuss the potentialimpact of Gustav to Louisiana.”

Steve E. Smith, president of Property Solutions for CarvillReAdvisory, said in a statement: “The forecast track for thissystem presents Gustav as a significant threat to the U.S. coast bythe end of the weekend. Gustav is expected to reach the Gulf ofMexico potentially as a major hurricane, taking a track in thegeneral direction of Louisiana and the Gulf oil field.”

He added, “The long-range forecast, however, is subject tosignificant uncertainty… The potential for Gustav to intensifystrongly when it reaches the Gulf is high.”

Peter Dailey, director of atmospheric science at AIR Worldwidesaid “the speed with which Gustav re-intensifies will depend on itsforward speed and direction–that is, how quickly it can escape theinfluence of Haiti's rugged terrain.”

AIR added that oil and natural gas producers are keeping a closeeye on Gustav and some companies have indicated they will beginevacuations of offshore drilling platforms and rigs soon.