Section of LA 308 closes in Thibodaux for water line repairs
October 6, 2020
Hurricane Delta holding steady at Category 4 strength
October 6, 2020
The newest update shows Hurricane Delta now has max winds of 145 mph, which is still a category 4 storm. The potential does exist for the storm to further intensify to near Category 5 (only needing 10+ mph to increase categories) before landfall near Cancun tonight-early tomorrow. The forecast track has nudged a little westward at landfall in Louisiana. It is still forecast to make landfall late Friday/early Saturday as a Category 3 storm.
Hurricane Watches are likely to be issued sometime tomorrow for parts of the Gulf Coast, 48 hours in advance of the onset of tropical storm force winds Friday afternoon.
At 5 p.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Delta was located over the northwest Caribbean Sea about 215 miles (345 km) east-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico. Delta is moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph (28 km/h). A west-northwestward to northwestward motion is expected over the next couple of days. A slower northwestward to north-northwestward motion is forecast to begin on Thursday, and a northward motion is expected Thursday night and Friday. On the forecast track, the center of Delta will move over the northeastern portion of the Yucatan peninsula late tonight or early Wednesday. Delta is forecast to move over the southern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday afternoon, and be over the southern or central Gulf of Mexico through Thursday, and approach the northern Gulf coast on Friday.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 145 mph (230 km/h) with higher gusts – a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (165 km). Some additional strengthening is possible before the center reaches the coast 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 Wednesday night and Thursday.
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 follow advice given by local officials. Storm surge and hurricane watches will likely be issued for portions of the northern Gulf Coast on Wednesday.
