The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Delta is forecast to hit west of the New Orleans area, making landfall south of Lafayette, Louisiana.
First, the category three hurricane is forecast to hit Mexico with winds of around 115 miles per hour.
"On the forecast track, the center of Delta will move over the northeastern portion of the Yucatan Peninsula during the next few hours. Delta is forecast to move over the southern Gulf of Mexico this afternoon, be over the southern or central Gulf of Mexico through Thursday, and approach the northern Gulf coast on Friday,"
according to the Hurricane Center.
Forecasters expect Delta get strong again in the Gulf with winds up to 130 mph.
"Although some weakening is likely when Delta moves over the Yucatan peninsula, re-strengthening is forecast when the hurricane moves over the southern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday night and Thursday, and Delta could become a category 4 hurricane again by late Thursday. Weakening is expected as Delta approaches the
northern Gulf coast on Friday."
The current forecast track takes New Orleans out of the cone of error for the eye's landfall, but keeps New Orleans close enough to feel some impact from Delta... particularly outside the levee protection.
The track could still shift once Delta gets in the Gulf, so the forecast is subject to change.