While Hurricane Marco weakened to a tropical storm Sunday the newest forecast track for Laura became more foreboding for the Acadiana area.
Marco is expected to continue to fight upper level shear that will keep blowing storms to the northeast of the system and more than likely away from Acadiana.
The lower level circulation associated with Marco should travel eventually travel westward across coastal Louisiana into Tuesday with some tropical, but likely minor impacts across the area...especially compared to the potential threats emerging from Laura. (See the threat impact graphic further below)
After clearing Western Cuba Monday night there will be ample opportunity and very favorable conditions for intensification of Laura in the Gulf of Mexico with the system expected to become a a Category 2 storm, but the National Hurricane Center (NHC) continues to suggest that Laura could have "major" hurricane potential prior to landfall...that's category 3 or higher with better than 110 mph winds.
The bad news for Acadiana is that the NHC shifted the track farther east at 10pm making Laura's landfall along the Cameron/Vermilion Parish border Wednesday evening.
This means there is a very good chance that high hurricane force winds, flooding rainfall and a devastating storm surge may be possible with Laura Wednesday night into early Thursday.
Of course there will very likely more changes to the track, intensity and timing forecasts, but Acadiana residents should prepare for hurricane conditions arriving late Wednesday.
Those that may have to evacuate from any potential coastal storm surge zone or low lying flood prone areas should consider doing so by late Tuesday, and the rest of us should have hurricane preparations in place and completed by Wednesday morning.
Stay with KATC, katc.com and social media for the latest on live updates over the next few days.
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