MIAMI, Florida – NOAA’s National Hurricane Center issued a Public Advisory at 9 p.m. Central Daylight Time on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, due to the presence of Category 4 Hurricane Laura that will make landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border and will produce a catastrophic storm surge, extreme winds, and flash flooding along the northwest Gulf Coast tonight.
Hurricane Laura Projected Path
Hurricane Laura is located about 90 miles south of Port Charles, Louisiana, and is moving to the north-northwest at 15 mph (24 km/h).
NHC forecasters say that a turn toward the north is expected overnight, and a northward motion should continue on Thursday.
A northeastward to east-northeastward motion is expected Thursday night and Friday.
On the official NHC forecast track, Laura will approach the upper Texas and southwest Louisiana coasts this evening and move inland within that area tonight.
The center of Laura is forecast to move over northwestern Louisiana tomorrow, across Arkansas Thursday night, and over the mid-Mississippi Valley on Friday.
Hurricane Laura Computer Models
Spaghetti models are in strong agreement that Laura will make landfall near the Texas/Louisiana border.
Hurricane Laura Category Strength
Laura is a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h), with higher gusts.
Laura is a large hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center of the tropical cyclone and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles (335 km).
Some additional strengthening is possible this evening before Laura reaches the northwest Gulf coast overnight.
Rapid weakening is expected after Laura moves inland.
Hurricane Laura Watches and Warnings
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect from Freeport, Texas to the mouth of the Mississippi River.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect from San Luis Pass, Texas to Intracoastal City, Louisiana.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from Sargent, Texas to San Luis Pass, Texas; east of Intracoastal City, Louisiana to the mouth of the Mississippi River.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect from east of Intracoastal City, Louisiana to the west of Morgan City, Louisiana.
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