A map of Louisiana provided by the National Hurricane Center shows Hurricane Laura's projected path.
As of 8:16 a.m. Eastern Time, Laura -- the 13th named tropical storm of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, and the 3rd hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center -- had reached Category 3 strength, with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, according to CNN. It could be upgraded to a Category 4 by Thursday. The storm is expected to bring "life-threatening" storm surges and dangerous waves, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm is expected to make landfall in the region near the Texas-Louisiana border. Potentially catastrophic damage is predicted for the area between San Luis Pass, Texas, on eastward to the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana. The storm surge could potentially make its way as far as 30 miles inland. Combined with rainfall from the storm, and widespread flash flooding along roadways, streams, and in certain urban areas could occur as far north as parts of Arkansas. Remnants of the storm are expected to bring rainfall as far north as the Ohio Valley, to include parts of Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana.
