HURRICANE LAURA STRENGTHENING OVER CENTRAL GULF; HEADED TO TX & LA… Hurricane Laura is gradually strengthening over the central Gulf of Mexico on this Tuesday evening. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 85 mph with minimum central pressure down to 983 millibars. The official forecast from the National Hurricane Center calls for Laura to ramp up to major hurricane intensity tomorrow (Wednesday) evening. Landfall will likely happen late Wednesday or early Thursday near the Texas-Louisiana border. While significant local impacts in south Alabama and northwest Florida are NOT expected, big impacts are possible in western Louisiana and eastern Texas. Extreme winds (perhaps at 115 mph or higher), dangerous storm surge, isolated tornadoes, and flash flooding will all be possible as the core of Hurricane Laura moves ashore tomorrow night.

HURRICANE WARNING FOR BEAUMONT & LAKE CHARLES AREA… Extreme storm surge and wind impacts are expected in parts of east Texas and western Louisiana where a Hurricane Warning is in effect. This Hurricane Warning extends from San Luis Pass, Texas to Intracoastal City, Louisiana. Effects from Hurricane Laura will likely extend inland along the Sabine River (which serves as the border between Louisiana and Texas), thus several inland counties in east Texas and west Louisiana are involved in a Hurricane Warning. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from Intracoastal City, Louisiana eastward to the Mouth of the Mississippi River due to the potential for tropical storm force winds near the immediate coast a bit farther to the east.

MAJOR SHIFT TO THE EAST? NOT AT THIS POINT… Despite what the viral fear mongers would have us believe, forecast confidence is now near certain that that Hurricane Laura will make landfall in western Louisiana or eastern Texas. That means that a direct hit for the Florida Panhandle, northwest Florida, south Alabama, coastal Mississippi, and even the greater New Orleans are IS off the table at this point. The overall pattern driving Laura to areas near the Sabine River are clear, pronounced, and won’t be changing that much before landfall. Residents in the greater Houston and Galveston area, Beaumont, and Lake Charles are vehemently encouraged to please HEED the evacuation orders that have been and will be issued.

LITTLE TO NO DIRECT LOCAL IMPACTS FOR LAURA… Just to be 100% clear on this since I’ve seen so much fear and misinformation being disseminated today: 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. Please don’t let an obscurely-named Facebook page run by an “aspiring meteorologist” tell you otherwise. It is baffling to think we live in a world where fear-based posts go viral and mislead so many people. Please don’t buy into these posts. We’re okay, I promise.

APP ALERTS… redzoneweather.com/app is the link where you can download the free RedZone Weather app. We post brief updates throughout each day in the app, keeping you up-to-date about the latest happenings in weather across south Alabama and northwest Florida. Once you have the free app downloaded to your iOS or Android device, be sure to visit the Alerts tab (lower right corner) then tap the large, yellow Alert Settings button to customize the alerts you would like to receive straight from me.

I will have your next regularly scheduled forecast video posted by 7:15AM on Wednesday. Have a nice Tuesday evening!

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