During Monday’s press conference, Governor John Bel Edwards said forecasters predict Laura will have the same strength as Hurricane Rita had when it hit southeast Louisiana 15 years ago. WWL-TV’s Chief Meteorologist Chris Franklin says although Laura and Rita did not originate in the same locations, Laura is following a very similar path as Rita. Hurricane Rita was a category 5 hurricane that weakened to a category 3 storm when it made landfall along the Texas-Louisiana border. Laura is projected to make landfall in a similar area as a possible category 2 storm.