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10:30 PM
Hurricane Delta has increased in intensity over the last few hours now with winds of 120 mph. Overall no changes were made with the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. Landfall will occur just east of Lake Charles tomorrow evening.
Our impacts in southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi will continue to be minimal with coastal flooding the main issue followed by some gusty winds and an isolated tornado threat.
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7:00 PM
Delta continues to have winds of 115 mph. The storm surge forecast has been lowered by the National Hurricane Center for areas from Port Fourchon to Terrebonne now to 4-7 feet. Overall this means less of an issue for our coastal areas.
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5:30 PM
Hurricane Delta’s eye is emerging with maximum sustained winds at 115 as a Category 3 hurricane. Eye becoming more defined on satellite, and hurricane hunters finding the system intensifying.
The latest forecast track is nearly unchanged. Landfall now projected in Eastern Cameron/Vermilion Parish near Lake Arthur/Gueydan/Kaplan as a Category 3 hurricane Friday evening with 120 mph winds.
Could the system be weaker? Yes, that’s possible given cooler water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico shelf. But, you don’t have the luxury betting on it weakening, and you must be prepared that it won’t.
This is only 15-20 miles off of Hurricane Laura’s recent landfall location on August 26, 2020.
Overall, Delta’s greatest impacts stay to our west in Acadiana and southwest Louisiana. In southeast Louisiana, we are still expecting some impacts.
Hurricane Warnings (pink) and Tropical Storm Warnings (blue) now span the Louisiana coast. A Hurricane Warning has been issued for the northern Gulf coast from High Island, Texas, eastward to Grand Isle, Louisiana. A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued along the Texas coast from west of High Island to San Luis Pass and along the northern Gulf coast from east of Grand Isle, Louisiana to the Mouth of the Pearl River, including the city of New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas.
Tropical storm force gusts are still likely on the projected path all the way to Metro New Orleans. Sporadic power outages are a possibility. Remember, just because the system’s center may not impact you doesn’t mean you won’t see impacts well east of where its center comes onshore. Significant coastal flooding from Pecan Island/Intracoastal City to the Mouth of the Mississippi River/Lake Borgne and a tornado risk will extend well east Delta’s center.
A Storm Surge Warning also remains in effect with localized 4-7 feet possible in coastal Terrebonne Parish and 4-6 feet possible from Grand Isle to the Mouth of the Mississippi River. 3-5 feet in Lake Borgne/Pontchartrain/Maurepas.
The biggest risk to our New Orleans Metro will arrive late Friday to Friday night through early Saturday morning. The Storm Prediction Center is issuing a Slight Risk (Level 2 out of 5) for spin-up tornadoes. Wind gusts between 35-50 miles per hour are likely with Delta’s outer bands. Rainfall amounts will be between 1-3 inches, but we will have to monitor for localized higher amounts.
Right now, New Orleans is not included in the Flash Flood Watch. Follow along today to keep up with incoming updates as details become definitive.
