ORLANDO, Fla. — Tropical Storm Laura is moving toward the Gulf of Mexico. The storm is expected to strengthen into a category 1 hurricane Tuesday.
11 a.m. update:
The National Hurricane Center released the 11 a.m. Hurricane Laura complete advisory and surprisingly there were no major changes to the track of intensity since their special 8:15 a.m. statement.
Hurricane Laura is still holding 75 mph maximum sustained winds and is moving west-northwest at 16 mph. New hurricane warnings were issued for coastal parts of Southeast Texas from San Luis Pass to Intracoastal City in Louisiana.
Storm surge watches and warnings are also in effect from Texas to the mouth of the Mississippi River.
As Hurricane Laura continues to track over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico growing and intensifying, the system’s eye could wobble a bit, wobbling would mean that there could still be slight shifts in the track. Being so close to a metropolitan city is very worrisome. Houston is already in the cone and the same southeastern portion of Texas was battered by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Drainage issues, bayous, rivers, and overpopulation could be in danger again by the heavy rains. This system is not compared to Harvey as it will be moving and it is not expected to remain parked, but we are still talking about a major category hurricane.
8:30 a.m. update
Laura has intensified and it is now a hurricane with 75 mph winds, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Hurricane hunters were investigating the storm and found maximum sustained winds of 75 mph with higher gusts.
8 a.m. update
Hurricane hunters said that Tropical Storm Laura’s maximum sustained winds have increased to 70 mph.
The National Hurricane Center said Laura is continuing to move away from Cuba and it is expected to move toward the southeastern Gulf of Mexico Tuesday morning.
The storm is expected to become a hurricane later this afternoon.
Laura is moving west-northwest at 17 mph.
See the 8 a.m. track below:
5 a.m. update
The National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Laura is expected to become a major hurricane as it approaches the Louisiana/Texas coast.
Forecasters expect Laura to become a category 3 storm when it makes landfall early Thursday morning. They said significant strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.
The storm is moving west northwest at 17 mph with 65 mph winds.
Laura will move away from Cuba and over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico Tuesday morning, the National Hurricane Center said.
4:30 a.m. update
The National Hurricane Center said Laura is forecast to turn toward the northwest by Wednesday and should continue to move northwestward through Wednesday night.
It will move away from Cuba and over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico Tuesday morning and approach the coasts of Texas and Louisiana Wednesday night.
Laura’s maximum winds are near 65 mph. The National Hurricane Center said Laura could be near major hurricane strength when it approaches the coast Wednesday night.
See 2 a.m. track below:
