Hurricane Laura moving inland over Louisiana after making landfall as Cat 4
HOUSTON - Hurricane Laura made landfall over southwestern Louisiana around 1 a.m. Thursday. The Category 4 hurricane made it over Cameron Parish with winds still at 150 mph.
The National Hurricane Center is urging residents near the storm to "take action now to protect your life!"
The safest place to be during a major landfalling hurricane is in a reinforced interior room away from windows.
Unsurvivable storm surge and hurricane-force winds are expected. The "extremely dangerous" Category 4 hurricane is just 40 miles away from Port Arthur.
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Rapid weakening is expected after Laura starts moving inland.
As of 1 a.m., Hurricane Laura is located about 40 miles east of Port Arthur, Texas and 35 miles south-southwest of Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Around 11 p.m. Wednesday, hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 60 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extended outward up to 205 miles.
A sustained wind of 43 mph and a gust to 49 mph were recently reported by a National Ocean Service station at Texas Point at Sabine Pass. A wind gust to 58 mph was recently reported at Cameron, Louisiana.
Recent visible satellite imagery revealing a very distinct 25 nautical-mile-wide eye.
The National Weather Service said water levels were beginning to rise along the coast of Louisiana.
Lafourche Parish, which is just south of New Orleans, in west Louisiana has already seen high water levels. The Sheriff's Office posted several images on Facebook from throughout the area.
Deadly storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, including Calcasieu and Sabine Lakes, is forecast by the NHC.
This surge could penetrate up to 40 miles inland from the immediate coastline, and floodwaters will not fully recede for several days after the storm.
WEATHER ALERTS
The NHC says life-threatening storm surge, extreme winds, and flash flooding is expected to begin later Wednesday in eastern Texas and portions of Louisiana.
Several weather alerts have been issued along the central Gulf Coast.
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:
- Freeport, Texas to the Mouth of the Mississippi River
A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline in the indicated locations.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
- High Island, Texas to Intracoastal City, Louisiana
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
- San Luis Pass to High Island Texas
- East of Intracoastal City, Louisiana to the Mouth of the Mississippi River
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
- East of Intracoastal City to west of Morgan City, Louisiana
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.
EVACUATIONS
As Laura continues to pose a major threat to the Texas Gulf Coast, some counties and cities have issued mandatory and voluntary evacuations.
FULL LIST: Evacuations ordered in these SE Texas counties and cities
Chambers County, parts of Galveston County, and Jefferson County are among those with mandatory evacuations.
Brazoria County, parts of Galveston County, parts of Harris County, and Liberty County are among those with voluntary evacuations.
CLICK HERE FOR HURRICANE EVACUATION ROUTES
On Wednesday evening, TXDoT closed I-10 east and westbound in Lake Charles due to Hurricane Laura. An alternate route has been set from Interstate 35 to Interstate 20.
To make it easier for residents to evacuate, Harris County announced tolls would be waived on HCTRA tollways and Fort Bend County waived tolls on Fort Bend Parkway, Westpark Toll Road, and Grand Parkway.
Later Tuesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the Texas Department of Transportation is waiving all tolls along the agency's portion of SH 99/Grand Parkway beginning Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, residents leaving the Bolivar Peninsula had until 11:30 p.m. Tuesday to take the Galveston-Bolivar Peninsula Ferry before TXDoT put a pause on ferry service for the incoming storm. Highway 87 is now impassible on the Bolivar Peninsula, according to the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management.
CLOSURES
In response to Hurricane Laura, several schools and businesses in southeast Texas have closed, canceled, or made changes as a precaution.
Some school districts are opting to continue with virtual or remote learning, while others are canceling classes and closing campuses. FOX 26 has compiled an alphabetically ordered list of districts that are closing or making changes.
CLICK HERE FOR A FULL LIST OF SCHOOL CLOSURES
City offices, museums and health clinics are also closing due to the storm. Transportation like METRO and the Galveston-Bolivar Peninsula Ferry have been suspended. FOX 26 has compiled an alphabetically ordered list of businesses that are closing or making changes.
CLICK HERE FOR LIST OF BUSINESS CLOSURES
The FOX 26 Weather Team is closely monitoring developments. They will continue to keep you up-to-date online, on-air, and on social media.
You can also stay up-to-date 24 hours a day by downloading the free FOX 26 weather app. You'll receive weather alerts for your location, along with video weather updates.