Hurricane Delta Brings Wind and Rain to Louisiana

Hurricane Delta brought wind and rain to Louisiana on Friday evening.  At 8:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Delta was located at latitude 30,0°N and longitude 93.0°W which put it about 25 miles west-southwest of Jennings, Louisiana.  Delta was moving toward the north-northwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 971 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from High Island, Texas to Morgan City, Louisiana.  Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for the portions of the coast from San Luis Pass to High Island, Texas and from Morgan City, Louisiana to the Mouth of the Pearl River.  The Tropical Storm Warning includes New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas.

According the National Hurricane Center the center of Hurricane Delta officially made landfall on the coast of Louisiana near Creole.  The maximum sustained wind speed at the time of landfall was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h).  Winds to hurricane force extended out 40 miles (65 km) from the center of circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km).

Hurricane Delta weakened on Friday while moved toward the coast of Louisiana.  An upper level trough produced southwesterly winds which blew toward the top of Delta.  Those winds caused moderate vertical wind shear.  The circulation around Hurricane Delta pulled drier air about the southern side of the hurricane.  In addition, Delta moved over cooler water near the coast of Louisiana.  The combination of shear, drier air and cooler water caused the circulation to weaken on Friday afternoon.

Even though it weakened, Hurricane Delta brought strong winds and rain to Louisiana.  A weather station in Lake Charles, Louisiana reported a sustained wind speed of 64 m.p.h. (103 km/h) and a wind gust of 95 m.p.h. (153 km/h).  A weather station at Lake Arthur, Louisiana reported a sustained wind speed of 77 m.p.h. (125 km/h) and a wind gust of 96 m.p.h. (154 km/h).  A weather station at Cameron, Louisiana reported a sustained wind speed of 58 m.p.h. (93 km/h) and a wind gust of 78 m.p.h. (128 km/h).  A weather station at Port Arthur, Texas reported a wind gust of 71 m.p.h. (114 km/h).

Winds blowing around the eastern side of Hurricane Delta pushed water toward the coast and cause a storm surge.  A station at Freshwater Canal Locks in Louisiana reported a water level rise of 8 feet (2.4 meters).  Delta also dropped heavy rain over parts of Louisiana.  Flash Flood Warnings were issued for some of the areas around Lake Charles and Lafayette, Louisiana.

Hurricane Delta will weaken steadily as it moves farther inland.  The upper level trough will steer Delta toward the northeast during the next several days.  On its anticipated track Delta will move across Louisiana toward southwest Tennessee.  The center of Delta will pass near Alexandria and Monroe, Louisiana.  Flash Flood Watches were in effect for Louisiana, northern Mississippi. southeastern Arkansas, and southwestern Tennessee.