Hurricane Delta approaches Louisiana as ‘major’ Category 3 storm

Hurricane Delta is set to make landfall in Louisiana Friday after strengthening to a Category 3 over the Gulf of Mexico, bringing with it a potential for “life-threatening storm surge” according to the National Hurricane Center.

Delta is predicted to hit the coast near Cameron, La., following a similar trajectory to Hurricane Laura, which battered the state in August.

Sustained wind speeds are predicted to hit a maximum of 120 mph, and Friday through Saturday rainfall resulting from Delta is expected to measure 5 to 10 inches from southwest into central Louisiana, likely causing flooding in affected areas. Storm surge could hit 7 to 11 feet above ground level along the northern Gulf Coast on Friday.

“The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline,” the National Hurricane Center wrote in a statement.

Hurricane #Delta is closing in on the southwestern Louisiana coast and expected to make landfall this evening. Here are the Key Messages from the 4 am CDT advisory. For more information visit https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb and https://t.co/SiZo8ozBbn pic.twitter.com/IEwwl7hbJD

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 9, 2020

The storm is expected to bring hurricane-force winds to the area between High Island, Texas and Ocean Springs, Miss. Among the towns predicted to be hit by the major storm is Lake Charles, La., one of the areas most badly damaged by Hurricane Laura.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) took to Twitter to announce the state’s emergency preparedness, writing that the Louisiana National Guard has “activated more than 2,400 men and women soldiers” in a “Herculean effort.”

.@LouisianaGov: @LANationalGuard has activated more than 2,400 men and women soldiers. ‘Herculean effort,’ governor says #lagov #HurricaneDelta

— Greg Hilburn (@GregHilburn1) October 8, 2020

On Twitter, meteorologist Philip Klotzbach shared that Delta will be the 10th hurricane to hit the continental United States this season.

When #Hurricane #Delta makes landfall tomorrow, it will be the 10th named storm to make landfall in the continental US (CONUS) this year. This will break the current single-season record of 9 landfalling named storms hitting the CONUS currently shared by 1916 and 2020 pic.twitter.com/sZtWBn3rgx

— Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) October 8, 2020