UPDATE 5:10 p.m.: The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Cristobal made landfall between Grand Isle and the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Tropical Storm Cristobal is barely off the Louisiana coast, slowly moving nearly north at seven miles per hour.
"This general motion is expected to continue this afternoon, followed by a gradual turn toward the north-northwest later this evening and tonight," said National Hurricane Center Senior Hurricane Specialist Stacy Stewart. "On the forecast track, the center of Cristobal will approach the northern Gulf of Mexico coast this afternoon, then move inland across southeastern Louisiana this afternoon through Monday morning."
While the storm is not expected to gain strength in maximum sustained winds, forecasters warn there could still be powerful gusts in some of the more intense squalls.
Storm surge of 3-5 feet are still forecast from Ocean Springs, Mississippi to Lake Borgne and the mouth of the Mississippi River. A surge of 2-4 feet is expected west of the river to Morgan City.
Cristobal's thunderstorms could also spawn tornadoes in southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi, and over into Alabama.
At 4:00 p.m., the center of Cristobal was at 29.1 north, 89.9 west, about 65 miles south of New Orleans.