Hurricane Gustav won't even get Augusta wet, and -- if it comes this way-- Hurricane Hanna likely will be tempered, according to the National Weather Service's West Columbia, S.C., office.

A high-pressure system moving down from New England should mitigate both storms, meteorologist Mike Proud said. Such systems are characterized by dry, cool air and sunny skies.

Gustav's moisture will stay to the west, moving over the Louisiana-Arkansas-Texas-Oklahoma region today and by Thursday nearing flood-ravaged Iowa.

Mr. Proud said Augustans should keep an eye on Hanna; it could dump a lot of rain and make the area susceptible to floods, tornadoes and wind damage.

The hurricane was moving at about 3 miles per hour over the Bahamas on Monday. Projections had Hanna making landfall south of Savannah at 2 p.m. Friday as a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph winds, rapidly weakening as it moves inland.

The eye is expected to move north through Charleston, skirt Columbia to the east, then be east of Charlotte at 2 a.m. Saturday.

Augusta would feel less force being on the left side of storm path, Mr. Proud said. Winds could reach 80 mph when the eye passes through Orangeburg County, but be only 50 to 60 mph in Augusta.

Reach Johnny Edwards at (706) 823-3225 or johnny.edwards@augustachronicle.com.