Gustav no longer expected to reach Category 4

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav was no longer expected to reach Category 4 strength before hitting the U.S. Gulf Coast, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Sunday.

Gustav was expected to have top winds of 127 mph (204 kph), Category 3 strength on the five-stage Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane intensity, the hurricane center said in a report.

(Reporting by Jim Loney; Editing by Peter Cooney)