Delta has been undergoing rapid intensification since yesterday. Data from a NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft indicates that Delta has strengthened into a category 4 hurricane. As of 11:20 AM EDT maximum sustained winds are now 130 mph with a pressure of 954 mb.
The environment will remain supportive of intensification through at least Thursday, and it is possible Delta will become a category 5.
Interaction with the northeast Yucatan Peninsula tomorrow morning should result in some slight weakening. However, re-intensification will be likely when Delta moves into the southwest Gulf of Mexico.
Track guidance is tightly clustered on a landfall in southeast Louisiana Friday, but there is still time for the track to shift.
A combination of increasing shear and cooler waters is still expected to induce weakening as Delta nears the Gulf Coast. Despite this, Delta will likely be a significant hurricane (category 2 or 3) at landfall.
Delta will bring a life-threatening storm surge, hurricane-force winds, and heavy rain/flash flooding to a portion of the northern Gulf Coast Friday/Saturday. However, exact placement will depend on the track of Delta.
Everyone along the northern Gulf Coast should continue to closely monitor Delta’s progress.
