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Hurricane Laura is expected to become a major hurricane before making landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday evening, with wind speeds forecast to reach 110 mph.
The hurricane is "rapidly intensifying" and is expected to produce a life-threatening storm surge, extreme winds, and flash flooding over eastern Texas and Louisiana on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
As of 1 a.m. CDT on Wednesday morning, Hurricane Laura was around 360 miles south-southeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and around 280 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas. The hurricane has maximum sustained winds of 105 mph and is moving west-northwest at 17 mph.
Hurricane Laura is forecast to turn toward the northwest later on Wednesday and a northwestward to north-northwestward motion should continue through Wednesday night.
On Wednesday evening, Hurricane Laura is forecast to approach Upper Texas and southwest Louisiana coasts and move inland near those areas on Wednesday night or Thursday morning.
Hurricane Laura is expected to weaken to a tropical storm as it reaches Arkansas on Thursday evening, before weakening to a tropical depression as it moves northwest on Friday.
Storm Surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the coastline in southwestern Louisiana and southeastern Texas.
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for San Luis Pass Texas to the Mouth of the Mississippi River, and a Storm Surge Watch is in effect for Freeport Texas to San Luis Pass, Mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs Mississippi, Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Borgne.
The National Weather Service said in a public advisory: "A Storm Surge Warning means that there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations.
"This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials."
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for San Luis Pass Texas to Intracoastal City Louisiana and a Hurricane Watch is in effect for east of Intracoastal City to the west of Morgan City Louisiana, with hurricane-force winds expected in these areas on Wednesday night. Hurricane-force winds are also expected to spread inland to portions of eastern Texas and western Louisiana early on Thursday.
The National Weather Service said: "A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.
"Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion."
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Sargent, Texas, to San Luis Pass, east of Intracoastal City Louisiana to the Mouth of the Mississippi River.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a tweet on Tuesday: "Louisiana must take Hurricane Laura seriously. Make sure your plans are in place, that you have what you need and that you evacuate if you need to before it's too late."
In a press release, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said: "Hurricane Laura is rapidly intensifying and poses a major threat to communities in Southeast Texas and along the coast. Texans in the path of this storm should waste no time preparing for the impact of Hurricane Laura and take immediate action to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.
"I urge our Southeast and Coastal communities to heed the guidance of local officials, follow evacuation orders, and remain vigilant as we brace for the impact of Hurricane Laura. The State of Texas will continue to monitor this storm and provide the resources needed to keep Texans safe."
