Hurricane Laura made landfall in Louisiana early Thursday as a strong Category 4 storm, bringing winds approaching 150 mph, rising water, extensive damage and power outages that affected hundreds of thousands.
The National Hurricane Center described the hurricane as “extremely dangerous” as it moved across the state, warning of catastrophic storm surges, extreme winds and flash flooding across portions of low-lying Louisiana.
“Doppler radar images indicate that the eye of Hurricane Laura has made landfall at the coast near Cameron, Louisiana,” the agency said, noting the storm would likely move inland over southwest Louisiana and Arkansas later Thursday evening.everal hours after making landfall, the hurricane weakened to a Category 2 storm and was predicted to become a tropical storm later in the day. However maximum sustained winds remained near 110 mph, with higher gusts.
“Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause
catastrophic damage,” the National Hurricane Center said Thursday morning, warning that high water could persist for several days.
Nearly 470,000 homes and businesses in Texas and Louisiana had lost power by Thursday morning, according to The Associated Press.
The National Weather Service forecasts that Laura will become a tropical storm later Thursday.
Initial reports from Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana showed water level rise of more than 9 feet, the National Ocean Service said. Wind gusts at the Lake Charles, Louisiana, airport reached 128 mph.
