The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Delta has 115 mile per hour winds as it churns toward Louisiana.
"On the forecast track, the center of Delta should make landfall along the coast of southwestern Louisiana later this afternoon or this evening, and then move across central and northeastern Louisiana tonight and Saturday morning."
Delta is a category 3 hurricane. The system is expected to lose a little more of its punch as it moves over cooler water before making it to the coast.
"Slow weakening is expected before landfall, with rapid weakening expected after the center moves inland."
The hurricane is forecast to be a strong category two or low-end category three at landfall with winds around 110 mph.
While minimal impacts are expected in and around New Orleans, the Hurricane Center says many of the same areas devastated by Hurricane Laura six weeks ago, are in for another lashing from Delta.
WIND:
Hurricane conditions are expected over Southwest and South-central Louisiana by this afternoon, with tropical storm conditions beginning within that area in the next few hours.
RAINFALL:
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.
For extreme east Texas into northern Louisiana, southern Arkansas, and western Mississippi, Delta is expected to produce 3 to 6 inches of rain, with isolated maximum totals of 10 inches. These rainfall amounts will lead to flash, urban, small stream, and isolated minor river flooding.
STORM SURGE:
Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, LA to Morgan City, LA including Vermilion Bay...7-11 ft
Holly Beach, LA to Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, LA...5-8 ft
Sabine Pass to Holly Beach, LA...3-5 ft
Morgan City, LA to Port Fourchon, LA...4-7 ft
Calcasieu Lake...2-4 ft
High Island, TX to Sabine Pass...2-4 ft
Port Fourchon, LA to the Mouth of the Pearl River...2-4 ft
Lake Borgne...2-4 ft
Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas...1-3 ft
Mouth of the Pearl River, LA to the AL/FL border including Mobile Bay...1-3 ft
Sabine Lake...1-3 ft
Port O'Connor, TX to High Island, TX including Galveston Bay... 1-3 ft
TORNADOES:
A few tornadoes are possible today and tonight over southern portions of Louisiana and Mississippi.
