Hurricane Laura May Strike Coastline with 150 MPH Winds

Hurricane Laura now has top sustained winds of 145 mph and could still strengthen to 150 mph before landfall.  The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center continues to indicate that Laura will make landfall late tonight as a strong Category 4 hurricane.  That landfall should take place somewhere near Cameron, Louisiana.  A storm surge of 15-20 feet will be devastating for that area and even inland to Lake Charles.

National Weather Service meteorologists expect hurricane force winds to be experienced most by those in the Toledo Bend area.  Persons in Jasper, Newton, Sabine, and Tyler Counties need to be prepared for those hurricane conditions to move in overnight.  Persons in Angelina, Nacogdoches, and surrounding counties could experience some hurricane force gusts from squalls, but for the most part sustained winds of 30-35 mph will be experienced.

A tornado watch is in effect until 9 pm.  A flash flood watch is in effect until Friday.