UPDATE 10:30 a.m.: The National Hurricane Center reports "data from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that Delta is continuing to rapidly strengthen. The maximum winds have increased to near 130 mph (215 km/h) with higher gusts. This makes Delta a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale."
The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Delta is now a major storm as it heads for the Gulf of Mexico.
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Forecasters say additional strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.
"Delta is forecast to be an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane when it reaches the Yucatan peninsula Wednesday. Although some weakening is likely when Delta moves over the Yucatan peninsula, re-strengthening is forecast when the hurricane moves over the southern Gulf of Mexico."
The Hurricane Center is starting to focus on the Gulf Coast impacts being most likely in Louisiana and Mississippi, but the track should become more clear after the storm actually moves into the Gulf of Mexico tomorrow.
"There is an increasing likelihood of life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds, especially along the coasts of Louisiana and Mississippi, beginning on Friday. Residents in these areas should ensure they have their hurricane plan in place and monitor updates to the forecast."
The current path shows an early Saturday landfall in Louisiana with Delta moving over Baton Rouge Saturday morning. That remains subject to change.
