The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Delta has regained some strength in the Gulf of Mexico as it heads for a landfall Friday evening near Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Delta became a major hurricane again this afternoon. As of 7:00pm, top sustained winds were 115 miles per hour.
"Additional strengthening is possible tonight. Some weakening is possible as Delta approaches the northern Gulf coast on Friday, with rapid weakening expected after the center moves inland," the Hurricane Center advised.
The forecast now calls for winds of 120mph at landfall, a category three hurricane.
The Hurricane Center is still calling for a landfall between Lake Charles and Lafayette, Louisiana.
"On the forecast track, the center of Delta will move over the western Gulf of Mexico this evening, over the northwestern Gulf of Mexico on Friday, and then move inland within the hurricane warning area Friday afternoon or Friday night."
Based on the new intensity predictions, forecasters now say Delta could dump 15 inches or more on western and central parts of the Louisiana coast.
"These rainfall amounts will lead to significant flash, urban, small stream flooding, along with minor to major river flooding."
New Orleans is forecast to see less than an inch of rain.
Forecasters say the storm surge could be eleven feet at Morgan City, Louisiana... with lower amounts on either side.
