Laura is expected to bring a “non-survival” storm surge.
Laura is hitting the Gulf Coast as a Category 4 hurricane with an “unsustainable storm surge” expected in some areas, according to the National Hurricane Center.
“Unsustainable 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,” the NHC said in a statement. “This ascent could drink up to 30 miles of land from the immediate shoreline. Only a few hours remain to protect life and property and all actions must be completed after completion.”
Parts of eastern Texas and western Louisiana are expected to see “catastrophic wind damage,” especially in places where the eyeball of the storm struck early Thursday morning, the NHC said. Residents in affected areas are instructed to evacuate and are called upon to support “widespread damaging wind gusts” that will spread well within the interior across parts of those areas.
Here’s how the news develops today. All times Eastern. Please refresh this page for updates.
3:25 p.m .: Extreme wind warning extended, storm surge reaches 9 meters
Hurricane Laura is still a Category 4 storm, as it blows early Thursday with Lake Charles, Louisiana, with winds up to 132 mph.
The extreme wind warning in the area has been extended to 4 hours Lake Charles has seen sustained winds of 100 mph for almost an hour.
A storm surge of more than 9 meters is reported in Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana.
ABC News station KTRK in Houston has reporters on the ground showing the strong winds in Lake Charles as the eye gets closer.
2:49 p.m .: Thousands already without power when Hurricane hits Laura de Golf
As of 2:30 a.m., more than 129,000 customers are without power in Louisiana and Texas due to Hurricane Laura. In Louisiana, there are at least 109,811 customers without electricity and 19,270 in Texas.
As the storm moves north, a tropical storm warning has been issued as far north as Arkansas and a flash flood watch has been issued for Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee.
The National Hurricane Center said Laura made an attack with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph and minimum central pressure of 938 millibars. It said the potentially catastrophic effects would continue.
The northern eye wall moves across Cameron Parish, Louisiana. Lake Charles is currently seeing wind speeds of 128 mph.
2:05 p.m .: Hurricane Laura strikes Louisiana
Hurricane Laura moves across Louisiana at night with wind gusts of 110 in Cameron, Louisiana, catastrophic storm surge, extreme wind and flash water.
Laura is now 30 miles south, southwest of Lake Charles, Louisiana. The hurricane is moving north at 15 MPH, where winds are still reaching 150 mph.
Forecast shows up to 20 meters storm surge is expected. This can go up to 40 miles inland in parts of the coast of Southern Louisiana. This is a catastrophic prediction.
“Laura’s eyewall is moving onshore across southwest Louisiana. Take cover now,” the National Hurricane Center said in its 1-day forecast. “Treat this threatening extreme wind as if a tornado were approaching and move it directly to the safe room in your shelter. Take action now to protect your life.”
There have been two reported tornadoes due to this storm.
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