TEXTBOOK example of a major hurricane. Extreme winds, potentially catastrophic storm surge ahead for parts of east Texas and west Louisiana.
Hurricane #Laura max winds remain at 140 mph, for now. Further fluctuations in strength before landfall possible. pic.twitter.com/AMAhHgK8qf
— Spinks Megginson (@rzweather) August 26, 2020
2 PM CDT #Laura Update: Water levels beginning to rise along the coast of Louisiana. Aircraft reports pressure has fallen to 948 mb https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB pic.twitter.com/ms9pWiE8WA
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 26, 2020
Scattered showers and thunderstorms continue to pop up and stream northwest today… No severe weather issues expected locally. pic.twitter.com/2ZkLwptQKZ
— Spinks Megginson (@rzweather) August 26, 2020
#Laura continues to strengthen and is now a Category 4 #hurricane with max winds of 140 mph. Laura is now the strongest August hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico since Katrina (2005). #HurricaneLaura pic.twitter.com/U9uR7SUcMn
— Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) August 26, 2020
DIRE WARNING FROM LOUISIANA SHERIFF: PUT ZIPLOC BAG IN POCKET… “Those choosing to stay and face this very dangerous storm must understand that rescue efforts cannot and will not begin until after storm and surge have passed and it is safe to do so. Please evacuate and if you choose to stay and we can’t get to you, write your name, address, social security number, and next of kin and put it in a Ziploc bag in your pocket.” That is a quote by Vermilion Parish Sheriff Michael A. Couvillon this afternoon relayed by KADN Meteorologist Cory Smith underscoring the seriousness and urgency of the situation in southwest Louisiana this evening. The language I am seeing from the National Hurricane Center is alarming this afternoon with the potential for “unsurvivable, catastrophic storm surge” in parts of western Louisiana and eastern Texas as Hurricane Laura makes landfall tonight into early Thursday.
DANGEROUS LAURA IS RAPIDLY STRENGTHENING… Hurricane Laura has rapidly strengthened to a category 3, major hurricane this afternoon. Intensification is likely not done just yet. Laura will probably become stronger before its landfall tonight in eastern Texas or western Louisiana. Maximum sustained winds as of the 10AM advisory are at 125 mph with minimum central pressure down to 956 millibars. Laura is moving northwest at 16 mph. We note the latest ECMWF/Euro model data shows the potential for 50-60 ft. waves just offshore and on the eastern side of Laura as the system moves inland tonight. That translates into a potentially catastrophic situation setting up for western Louisiana, where coastal flooding has already started in some cases.
LITTLE TO NO DIRECT LOCAL IMPACTS FROM LAURA IN SW AL & NW FL… Direct local impacts from Hurricane Laura (outside of ongoing rip currents and high waves at the beaches) are not expected in south Alabama or northwest Florida. Impacts from Laura will be possible basically from the Mouth of the Mississippi River westward to the core impact zone in western Louisiana and eastern Texas.
APP… Be sure to download our free RedZone Weather app if you haven’t done so already. redzoneweather.com/app is the link where you can download the app for your iOS or Android device. Once you have the app downloaded, be sure to visit the Alerts tab in the lower right corner of the app to select the specific notifications you would like to receive straight from me.
I will have further updates on Hurricane Laura over the next several hours in the RedZone Weather app.
