XOUS54 KWBC 252133 CAPLCH NWS-IDP-PROD-4411169 w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov 2020-08-25T16:32:00-05:00 Actual Alert Public IPAWSv1.0 en-US Met Tropical Cyclone Statement Monitor Expected Moderate Likely SAME HLS NationalWeatherService HLS 2020-08-25T16:32:00-05:00 2020-08-25T16:32:00-05:00 2020-08-26T01:00:00-05:00 NWS Lake Charles LA Tropical Cyclone Statement issued August 25 at 4:32PM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA This product covers Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas **Hurricane Laura Expected To Strengthen Into A Major Hurricane Before Landfall Wednesday Night Or Thursday Morning** NEW INFORMATION --------------- * CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Storm Surge Warning and Hurricane Warning are in effect for Acadia, Calcasieu, East Cameron, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Orange, Vermilion, and West Cameron - A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Allen, Beauregard, Evangeline, Hardin, Northern Jasper, Northern Newton, Rapides, Southern Jasper, Southern Newton, Tyler, and Vernon - A Storm Surge Warning, Tropical Storm Warning, and Hurricane Watch are in effect for Iberia, Lower St. Martin, and St. Mary - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Avoyelles, Lafayette, St. Landry, and Upper St. Martin * STORM INFORMATION: - About 480 miles southeast of Sabine Pass TX or about 470 miles southeast of Cameron LA or about 420 miles southeast of Intracoastal City LA or about 390 miles south-southeast of Morgan City LA or about 480 miles southeast of Lake Charles LA or about 500 miles southeast of Port Arthur TX - 24.7N 88.3W - Storm Intensity 80 mph - Movement West-northwest or 300 degrees at 17 mph SITUATION OVERVIEW ------------------ At 4 PM CDT, the center of Hurricane Laura was located near latitude 24.7 North, longitude 88.3 West. Laura is moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph, and this general motion should continue tonight. A turn toward the northwest is forecast by Wednesday, and a northwestward to north-northwestward motion should continue through Wednesday night. On the forecast track, the center of Laura will move across the central Gulf of Mexico tonight and the northwestern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday. The hurricane should approach the Upper Texas and Southwest Louisiana coasts on Wednesday night and move inland near those areas late Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Showers and thunderstorms ahead of the center will begin to overspread southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas during Wednesday, with an increasing risk of localized flash flooding. Isolated tornadoes will also be possible, especially over southwest Louisiana. Tropical storm force winds are expected to spread across southwest Louisiana on Wednesday afternoon and southeast Texas by Wednesday evening. Hurricane force winds, especially in frequent gusts, will be likely beginning Wednesday night across southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas continuing into Thursday morning up into upper southeast Texas and west central Louisiana. Storm surge of 7 to 13 feet above ground level will be possible along the coast through Thursday afternoon, along and to the east of where the center comes ashore. Also a significant surge will occur up the lower Neches, Sabine, Calcasieu, Mermentau, and Vermilion River basins. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ----------------- * SURGE: Protect against life-threatening surge having possible devastating impacts across Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana. Potential impacts in this area include: - Widespread deep inundation, with storm surge flooding greatly accentuated by powerful battering waves. Structural damage to buildings, with many washing away. Damage greatly compounded from considerable floating debris. Locations may be uninhabitable for an extended period. - Escape routes and secondary roads washed out or severely flooded. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed or overtopped. - Extreme beach erosion. New shoreline cuts possible. - Massive damage to marinas, docks, and piers. Numerous small craft broken away from moorings with many lifted onshore and stranded. Also, protect against life-threatening surge having possible significant to extensive impacts across South Central Louisiana. * WIND: Protect against life-threatening wind having possible devastating impacts across Southeast Texas, Southwest and West Central Louisiana. Potential impacts in this area include: - Structural damage to sturdy buildings, some with complete roof and wall failures. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Damage greatly accentuated by large airborne projectiles. Locations may be uninhabitable for weeks or months. - Numerous large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and roadway signs blown over. - Many roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. Many bridges and access routes impassable. - Widespread power and communications outages. Also, protect against life-threatening wind having possible significant to extensive impacts across South Central and East Central Louisiana. * FLOODING RAIN: Protect against life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible extensive impacts across Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana. Potential impacts include: - Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues. - Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in multiple places. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches may become dangerous rivers. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed. - Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous. Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out. Protect against dangerous rainfall flooding having possible significant impacts across Central and South Central Louisiana. * TORNADOES: Protect against a tornado event having possible limited impacts across Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas. Potential impacts include: - The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans during tropical events. - A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power and communications disruptions. - Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats pulled from moorings. * EVACUATIONS: WATCH/WARNING PHASE - Listen to local official for recommended preparedness actions, including possible evacuation. If ordered to evacuate, do so immediately. WATCH/WARNING PHASE - Let others know where you are going prior to departure. Secure loose items and pets in the car, and avoid distracted driving. * OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: Now is the time to complete all preparations to protect life and property in accordance with your emergency plan. Ensure you are in a safe location before the onset of strong winds or possible flooding. Failure to adequately shelter may result in serious injury or loss of life. Always heed the advice of local officials and comply with any orders that are issued. Remember, during the storm 9 1 1 Emergency Services may not be able to immediately respond if conditions are unsafe. This should be a big factor in your decision making. It is important to remain calm, informed, and focused during an emergency. Be patient and helpful with those you encounter. Storm surge is the leading killer associated with tropical storms and hurricanes! Make sure you are in a safe area away from the surge zone. Even if you are not in a surge-prone area, you could find yourself cutoff by flood waters during and after the storm. Heed evacuation orders issued by the local authorities. Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes to the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather warnings. * ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION: - For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov - For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org - For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org http://www.weather.gov NWSheadline Hurricane Laura Expected To Strengthen Into A Major Hurricane Before Landfall Wednesday Night Or Thursday Morning EAS-ORG WXR PIL LCHHLSLCH BLOCKCHANNEL CMAS BLOCKCHANNEL EAS BLOCKCHANNEL NWEM St. Mary; Beauregard; Jefferson Davis; Lower St. Martin; Evangeline; Northern Jasper; Jefferson; Vernon; Southern Newton; Avoyelles; Vermilion; East Cameron; Orange; West Cameron; Hardin; Northern Newton; Lafayette; Acadia; Allen; Iberia; Rapides; Calcasieu; Tyler; Upper St. Martin; St. Landry; Southern Jasper UGC LAZ054 UGC LAZ030 UGC LAZ042 UGC LAZ055 UGC LAZ032 UGC TXZ259 UGC TXZ215 UGC LAZ027 UGC TXZ262 UGC LAZ029 UGC LAZ052 UGC LAZ074 UGC TXZ216 UGC LAZ073 UGC TXZ201 UGC TXZ260 UGC LAZ044 UGC LAZ043 UGC LAZ031 UGC LAZ053 UGC LAZ028 UGC LAZ041 UGC TXZ180 UGC LAZ045 UGC LAZ033 UGC TXZ261 SAME 022101 SAME 022011 SAME 022053 SAME 022099 SAME 022039 SAME 048241 SAME 048245 SAME 022115 SAME 048351 SAME 022009 SAME 022113 SAME 022023 SAME 048361 SAME 048199 SAME 022055 SAME 022001 SAME 022003 SAME 022045 SAME 022079 SAME 022019 SAME 048457 SAME 022097