Satellite imagery from NOAA taken August 26, 2020, shows Hurricane Laura in the Gulf of Mexico. (Image: NOAA)
Warning of 'Unsurvivable' Storm Surge as Category 4 Hurricane Laura Barrels Toward US
"Little time remains to protect life and property," said the National Hurricane Center.
This is a developing story. Check back for possible updates.
The National Hurricane Center warned Wednesday that "little time remains to protect life and property" as Hurricane Laura--"an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane"--neared landfall and was poised to bring an "unsurvivable storm surge" for parts of Texas and Louisiana.
\u201c1 PM CDT: #Laura is now an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane with maximum winds of 140 MPH. Little time remains to protect life and property before water levels begin to rise and winds increase in the warning areas https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB\u201d— National Hurricane Center (@National Hurricane Center) 1598464291
The 2:00 pm warning from the center came hours after a morning message conveying the possible dangers of the storm and the urgency with which residents should act, as Laura is expected to make landfall in Texas and Louisiana along the Gulft coast Wednesday night. From the center:
Unsurvivable 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. This surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate coastline. Only a few hours remain to protect life and property and all actions should be rushed to completion.
\u201cUnsurvivable 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. This surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate coastline. #Laura\u201d— National Hurricane Center (@National Hurricane Center) 1598454600
Forecasters said that catastrophic wind damage was expected "where Laura's eyewall makes landfall." Hurricane-force winds were expected to "spread well inland."
Areas of eastern Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas should also prepare for flash flooding.
\u201cExtremely dangerous Category 4 Hurricane #Laura via #GOESEast 1-minute imagery. #NHC warns of catastrophic storm surge, extreme winds and flash flooding along the northwest Gulf Coast tonight.\u201d— UW-Madison CIMSS (@UW-Madison CIMSS) 1598464990
Explaining the storm's rapid strengthening, meteorologist Jeff Masters wrote at Yale Climate Connections:
Laura rapidly intensified by an impressive 50 mph in the 24 hours ending at 11 a.m. EDT Wednesday, with the winds rising from 75 mph to 125 mph and the pressure falling from 990 mb to 956 mb. This far exceeds the definition of rapid intensification, which is a 24 mb drop in 24 hours. Buoy 42395, located just east of Laura's eye on Wednesday morning, reported sustained winds of up to 76 mph, wind gusts as high as 107 mph, and a wave height of 37 feet (11 meters).
Climate activist and author Bill McKibben put the storm in the context of the climate crisis, tweeting Wednesday, "It is terrifying to watch the speed with which Hurricane Laura is intensifying."
"The hot waters of the Gulf are an endless source of destructive power," wrote McKibben.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. The final deadline for our crucial Summer Campaign fundraising drive is just days away, and we’re falling short of our must-hit goal. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
This is a developing story. Check back for possible updates.
The National Hurricane Center warned Wednesday that "little time remains to protect life and property" as Hurricane Laura--"an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane"--neared landfall and was poised to bring an "unsurvivable storm surge" for parts of Texas and Louisiana.
\u201c1 PM CDT: #Laura is now an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane with maximum winds of 140 MPH. Little time remains to protect life and property before water levels begin to rise and winds increase in the warning areas https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB\u201d— National Hurricane Center (@National Hurricane Center) 1598464291
The 2:00 pm warning from the center came hours after a morning message conveying the possible dangers of the storm and the urgency with which residents should act, as Laura is expected to make landfall in Texas and Louisiana along the Gulft coast Wednesday night. From the center:
Unsurvivable 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. This surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate coastline. Only a few hours remain to protect life and property and all actions should be rushed to completion.
\u201cUnsurvivable 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. This surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate coastline. #Laura\u201d— National Hurricane Center (@National Hurricane Center) 1598454600
Forecasters said that catastrophic wind damage was expected "where Laura's eyewall makes landfall." Hurricane-force winds were expected to "spread well inland."
Areas of eastern Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas should also prepare for flash flooding.
\u201cExtremely dangerous Category 4 Hurricane #Laura via #GOESEast 1-minute imagery. #NHC warns of catastrophic storm surge, extreme winds and flash flooding along the northwest Gulf Coast tonight.\u201d— UW-Madison CIMSS (@UW-Madison CIMSS) 1598464990
Explaining the storm's rapid strengthening, meteorologist Jeff Masters wrote at Yale Climate Connections:
Laura rapidly intensified by an impressive 50 mph in the 24 hours ending at 11 a.m. EDT Wednesday, with the winds rising from 75 mph to 125 mph and the pressure falling from 990 mb to 956 mb. This far exceeds the definition of rapid intensification, which is a 24 mb drop in 24 hours. Buoy 42395, located just east of Laura's eye on Wednesday morning, reported sustained winds of up to 76 mph, wind gusts as high as 107 mph, and a wave height of 37 feet (11 meters).
Climate activist and author Bill McKibben put the storm in the context of the climate crisis, tweeting Wednesday, "It is terrifying to watch the speed with which Hurricane Laura is intensifying."
"The hot waters of the Gulf are an endless source of destructive power," wrote McKibben.
This is a developing story. Check back for possible updates.
The National Hurricane Center warned Wednesday that "little time remains to protect life and property" as Hurricane Laura--"an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane"--neared landfall and was poised to bring an "unsurvivable storm surge" for parts of Texas and Louisiana.
\u201c1 PM CDT: #Laura is now an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane with maximum winds of 140 MPH. Little time remains to protect life and property before water levels begin to rise and winds increase in the warning areas https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB\u201d— National Hurricane Center (@National Hurricane Center) 1598464291
The 2:00 pm warning from the center came hours after a morning message conveying the possible dangers of the storm and the urgency with which residents should act, as Laura is expected to make landfall in Texas and Louisiana along the Gulft coast Wednesday night. From the center:
Unsurvivable 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. This surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate coastline. Only a few hours remain to protect life and property and all actions should be rushed to completion.
\u201cUnsurvivable 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. This surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate coastline. #Laura\u201d— National Hurricane Center (@National Hurricane Center) 1598454600
Forecasters said that catastrophic wind damage was expected "where Laura's eyewall makes landfall." Hurricane-force winds were expected to "spread well inland."
Areas of eastern Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas should also prepare for flash flooding.
\u201cExtremely dangerous Category 4 Hurricane #Laura via #GOESEast 1-minute imagery. #NHC warns of catastrophic storm surge, extreme winds and flash flooding along the northwest Gulf Coast tonight.\u201d— UW-Madison CIMSS (@UW-Madison CIMSS) 1598464990
Explaining the storm's rapid strengthening, meteorologist Jeff Masters wrote at Yale Climate Connections:
Laura rapidly intensified by an impressive 50 mph in the 24 hours ending at 11 a.m. EDT Wednesday, with the winds rising from 75 mph to 125 mph and the pressure falling from 990 mb to 956 mb. This far exceeds the definition of rapid intensification, which is a 24 mb drop in 24 hours. Buoy 42395, located just east of Laura's eye on Wednesday morning, reported sustained winds of up to 76 mph, wind gusts as high as 107 mph, and a wave height of 37 feet (11 meters).
Climate activist and author Bill McKibben put the storm in the context of the climate crisis, tweeting Wednesday, "It is terrifying to watch the speed with which Hurricane Laura is intensifying."
"The hot waters of the Gulf are an endless source of destructive power," wrote McKibben.