What is the predicted intensity of Hurricane Laura upon landfall?

Question

Accepted Answer

Hurricane Laura Predicted to Make Landfall as a Major Category 4 Storm

Hurricane Laura is forecast to intensify into a major hurricane, potentially reaching Category 4 strength, by the time it makes landfall along the Texas-Louisiana border. Officials have warned of unprecedented devastation, with winds and a destructive storm surge posing significant risks to millions of lives. The hurricane, currently packing Category 1 winds of 120 kph, is expected to strengthen significantly overnight as it moves across the Gulf of Mexico.
Forecasted Intensity and Potential Impact

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has predicted that Laura will become a "major" hurricane, classified as Category 3 or higher, before reaching the coast. Meteorologists at DTN have further indicated the possibility of it making landfall as a devastating Category 4 storm. This intensification is accompanied by dire warnings from local officials, such as Lina Hidalgo, the top executive for Harris County, who described the potential for unprecedented devastation and urged residents to prepare for the worst.
Evacuation Orders and Preparedness Measures

In anticipation of Laura's approach, hundreds of thousands of residents along the Gulf Coast have been ordered to evacuate. More than 420,000 people in Jefferson, Orange, and Jasper Counties, along with the island city of Galveston, are under mandatory evacuation orders. Voluntary evacuations have also been issued for large coastal areas surrounding Houston. To accommodate evacuees, shelters are being prepared in San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin. The Texas National Guard has been deployed with high-water vehicles and rescue helicopters, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has also deployed a team to the affected region.
Storm Surge and Flooding Risks

The NHC has also highlighted the significant threat of storm surge, predicting that the combination of Laura's surge and high tide could elevate water levels by as much as 3.4 metres along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. In addition to the surge, isolated areas could experience up to 0.3 metres of rainfall, leading to widespread flooding. Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, has already closed its campus and urged its 15,000 students to evacuate.
Impact on the Energy Sector

The approaching hurricane has already caused substantial disruptions to the energy sector. Oil producers have evacuated 310 offshore facilities, leading to the shutdown of approximately 1.56 million barrels per day of crude output. This represents about 84 percent of offshore production in the Gulf of Mexico, nearing the 90 percent outage seen during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Gasoline prices have risen in response to these shutdowns, increasing by 10.3 percent since Friday. The region where Laura is projected to make landfall accounts for over 45 percent of the total US petroleum refining capacity and 17 percent of the nation's oil production. Cheniere Energy Inc. has also evacuated staff and suspended operations at its Sabine Pass LNG export terminal.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

What is the predicted intensity of Hurricane Laura upon landfall?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends