There have been no significant changes with Delta overnight. Strengthening has continued at a steady rate. As of the 7 AM CDT advisory maximum sustained winds were 100 mph with a pressure of 970 mb. Movement was northwest at 15 mph.
Forecast for Delta
Intensification will likely continue over the 12 to 24 hours, and Delta should re-attain major hurricane status.
Delate will turn north and then north-northeast tonight into early tomorrow. Track guidance remains locked onto a landfall between Morgan City, LA and the TX/LA border tomorrow afternoon or evening.
It is a very distinct possibility that Delta could make landfall very near, if not in the same area, that Laura made landfall in back in August.
While some weakening is still expected on approach to the Gulf Coast due to a combination of increasing wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures, Delta will likely be a category 2 or 3 hurricane at landfall.
Impacts
Delta is going to bring a life-threatening storm surge, hurricane-force winds (within the Hurricane Warning area, see watch/warning summary below), heavy rain and the potential for flash flooding, and the possibility of tornadoes in outer bands/squalls.
Tropical storm conditions will be possible as far east as southeast Louisiana.
Timing
Tropical storm conditions will likely push onshore of the upper Texas coast and coastal Louisiana tomorrow morning. Hurricane conditions can be expected (within the Hurricane Warning area, see watch/warning summary below) tomorrow afternoon or evening.
Watch and Warning Summary
A STORM SURGE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR…
* SABINE PASS TO OCEAN SPRINGS…MISSISSIPPI INCLUDING CALCASIEU
LAKE…VERMILION BAY…LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN…LAKE MAUREPAS…AND LAKE
BORGNE
A STORM SURGE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR…
* HIGH ISLAND…TX TO SABINE PASS
* EAST OF OCEAN SPRINGS…MISSISSIPPI TO THE MISSISSIPPI/ALABAMA
BORDER
A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR…
* EAST OF SABINE PASS TO MORGAN CITY…LOUISIANA
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR…
* SAN LUIS PASS…TEXAS TO SABINE PASS
* EAST OF MORGAN CITY…LOUISIANA TO THE MOUTH OF THE PEARL
RIVER…INCLUDING NEW ORLEANS
* LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND LAKE MAUREPAS
