Governor John Bel Edwards warns we could see a major hurricane roaring ashore in Louisiana this weekend.
"The Gulf is absolutely ripe in terms of the condition for rapid intensification of this storm," he said Thursday. "The time to prepare is now."
The governor says while the current forecast calls for Tropical Depression Nine to become a strong category two hurricane with top winds of 110 miles per hour before landfall somewhere in Louisiana, that could change quickly.
"The Hurricane Center and the meteorologists are very concerned about this storm because they see all of the conditions necessary for it to strengthen very, very rapidly."
Some models suggest we could have a category four storm, like Hurricane Laura was a year ago in the Gulf.
"Everybody in Louisiana, along the coast, needs to be prepared for a hurricane that could come as early as late Sunday... and it could be a major hurricane."
The National Hurricane Center's Advisory this afternoon also suggested the eventual strength could be more intense than the current forecast.
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"Additional strengthening is likely over the Gulf of Mexico, and the system could be near major hurricane strength when it approaches the northern Gulf coast."
Federal forecasters say there could be significant changes to the track and intensity predictions.
"The forecast uncertainty is larger than usual since the system is just forming."
The Hurricane Center's Forecast Discussion notes," There is a risk of life-threatening storm surge, damaging hurricane-force winds, and heavy rainfall Sunday and Monday along the northern Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle to the upper Texas coast, with the greatest risk along the coast of Louisiana."
Local leaders are ready to call for evacuations if that becomes necessary.