When it makes landfall, waters are expected to rise as much as 20 feet due to “the combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide.”
The National Hurricane Center gave a briefing early Wednesday. Satellite images show that Laura has become “a formidable hurricane” and an increasing threat to the communities in its path. It has transformed from a tropical storm to a hurricane capable of catastrophic damage. The hurricane is continuing to grow “and there are no signs it will stop soon,” said the National Hurricane Center spokesman.
“We are expecting widespread power outages, trees down. Homes and businesses will be damaged,” said Donald Jones, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Lake Charles is forecast to be in the direct path of Hurricane Laura. The hurricane’s diameter currently stretches from Sea Rim State Park in Texas, 300 miles to Intracoastal City, Louisiana.
“I’m telling you, this is going to be a very serious situation,” Jones emphasized.
If Hurricane Laura does not weaken or change its trajectory it will do catastrophic damage. “Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months,” the weather service claims.
