Major Hurricane Laura Has Winds Of 115 mph Forecast To Hit As Cat 4

Tuesday August 26 2020

Hurricane Laura has taken full advantage of the conditions in the Gulf of Mexico to flare up overnight. Winds are now 115 mph, making this a major hurricane at Category 3. It is expected to continue to strengthen and reach Category 4 by landfall overnight. A lot of new images and information in this post.

Hurricane Headlines

• Warnings in place: Hurricane, Tropical Storm (less winds farther from landfall, and Storm Surge).
• Hurricane forecast winds reach 70 miles from the center. Tropical Storm force winds reach 175 miles from the center.
• Storm surge of 10 to 15 feet high is forecast.
• Evacuations have been mandatory for over 500,000 people along the Louisiana and Texas coastal border.
• Inland track turns to Mid Atlantic Saturday

Hurricane Laura Satellite

 

Larua Impact Long After Landfall: Includes Rain For Us This Weekend

 

 

 

Satellite Loop

Hurricane Laura looks very large and more symmetrical, indicating a healthy circulation and intensity. There was some sheer on the west side, but that appears to be expanding out this morning.

 

Size Of Hurricane Laura

Tropical Storm Force Winds reach 175 miles away from the center. Hurricane Force winds are around the immediate eye wall, but this will expand today.

This is a larger storm and will likely continue intensifying up to landfall.

Storm Surge Forecast:

Peak surge 10 to 15 Feet (see below): The wall of water rise inland, not including waves.

Rain forecast: 

• Louisiana westward to east Texas: 5 to 10  inches with spots of 15 inches or higher. This will be dependent on the forward speed of the storm.

 

Wave Heights

 

National Hurricane Center Stats

SUMMARY OF 700 AM CDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...26.4N 91.4W
ABOUT 280 MI...450 KM SSE OF LAKE CHARLES LOUISIANA
ABOUT 290 MI...465 KM SE OF GALVESTON TEXAS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...115 MPH...185 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 310 DEGREES AT 15 MPH...24 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...963 MB...28.44 INCHES

National Hurricane Center Forecast Track/Cone

Forecast Watches and Warnings

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* Freeport Texas to the Mouth of the Mississippi River

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* San Luis Pass Texas to Intracoastal City Louisiana

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Sargent Texas to San Luis Pass
* East of Intracoastal City Louisiana to the Mouth of the
Mississippi River

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs Mississippi
* Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Borgne

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* East of Intracoastal City to west of Morgan City Louisiana

Storm Surge Forecast

Sea Rim State Park to Intracoastal City including Sabine Lake and 
Calcasieu Lake...10-15 ft
Intracoastal City to Morgan City including Vermilion Bay...8-12 ft
Port Bolivar to Sea Rim State Park...6-9 ft
Morgan City to Mouth of the Mississippi River...4-7 ft
San Luis Pass to Port Bolivar...3-5 ft
Galveston Bay...3-5 ft
Mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs including Lake 
Borgne...2-4 ft
Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas...2-4 ft
Freeport to San Luis Pass...2-4 ft

Computer Model Forecast Tracks

 

Hurricane Larua

Forecast TS Wind Arrival Time

 

Forecast Animation:

Here is the HWRF Model projection showing the Low Pressure tracking inland than linking up with a cold front to turn into the Mid Atlantic.

Heavy rain locally could arrive Saturday.

 

 

Rain Forecast?

I don’t think the models are able to handle the intensity, spread, and impact yet. The downgraded tropical system will interact with a frontal boundary.

It does look like we will have some downpours and severe storms on Saturday. I would make a general call for 1 to 3 inches for our region, with some higher amounts possible.

GFS Model Rainfall Through Sunday

 

Tropical Related Posts

2020 Tropical Storm and Hurricane Names and Naming History

 

Atlantic Tropical History: Maps of Origin Regions Every 10 Days

 

Maryland Weather 

---

Email Updates

Please make sure you sign up (above or  click here to sign up for email alerts…. ) for my newsletter. This way you will get an email to make sure you are notified of each post.

---