The National Hurricane Center is calling for a Hurricane Delta landfall today close to the same place where Hurricane Laura came ashore a month and a half ago in Southwest Louisiana.
Delta is a major hurricane.
"Maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph with higher gusts," the Hurricane Center advised. "Delta is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Slow weakening is expected to begin as Delta approaches the northern Gulf coast later today, with rapid weakening expected after the center moves inland."
The forecast track has been steady the last couple of days, with a landfall forecast between Lake Charles and Lafayette, Louisiana.
"On the forecast track, the center of Delta will move inland within the hurricane warning area this evening."
The Hurricane Center anticipates a storm surge of up to eleven feet near the landfall and more than a foot of rain in spots.
"Today through Saturday, Delta is expected to produce 5 to 10 inches of rain, with isolated maximum totals of 15 inches, from southwest into central Louisiana. These rainfall amounts will lead to significant flash, urban, small stream flooding, along with minor to major river flooding."
The New Orleans are is forecast to see less than two inches of rain and only occasional high gusts of wind.
"No longer do we really see much of the metro area at all under the potential of those tropical storm force winds. Maybe gusts of over 40 miles per hour." WWL TV Meteorologist Chris Franklin said for New Orleans, "We are still going to see some rainfall... but in terms of high accumulations that leading to flooding, that is just not going to be the case."
Winds at landfall in Southwest Louisiana are forecast to be around 110 miles per hour.
