Nate is now a hurricane. He’s located at 24.5N 87.0W, about 345 miles SE of the mouth of the Mississippi River Delta. Nate has max sustained winds of 80 MPH, and he’s moving NNW at 22 MPH, which is very fast forward movement. The minimum central pressure is 987 MB, 29.15 inches. All watches and warnings for Cuba and Mexico has been discontinued.
A hurricane warning is in effect from Grand Isle, LA to the Alabama/Florida border, including metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. A storm surge warning is in effect from Morgan City, LA to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line (my hometown area) in Florida, including the northern and western shores of Lake Pontchartrain. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Lake Maurepas; from west of Grand Isle to Morgan City, LA; east of the Alabama/Florida border to the Okaloosa/Walton county line.
What is a warning, exactly? Per the National Hurricane Center, “A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the
coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.”
Expect Nate to continue moving very fast throughout today and overnight to night. Nate is moving NNW presently, but will turn to the N Sunday morning, and then a NNE turn after that. Expect Nate to make landfall tonight on the Gulf Coast. Expect the affected areas from the Mississippi Delta to the Appalachians to get between 3″ and 10″ of rain. Tornado watches and warnings will begin tonight, as the situation begins to deteriorate. Swells, rip tides and rip currents, and storm surge are expected, as well. The warm, deep gulf will allow Nate to strengthen, probably to a category 2.
Hunker Down! 