Tag Archives: Alexandria

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.

Powerful Hurricane Laura Makes Landfall in Southwest Louisiana

Powerful Hurricane Laura made landfall in southwest Louisiana on Wednesday night.  At 2:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Hurricane Laura was located at latitude 29.8°N and longitude 93.3°W which put it about 30 miles (50 km) south-southwest of Lake Charles, Louisiana.  Laura was moving toward the north at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 150 m.p.h. (240 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 175 m.p.h. (280 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 938 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from High Island, Texas to Intracoastal City, Louisiana.  Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for the portions of the coast from San Luis Pass to High Island, Texas and from Intracoastal City to the Mouth of the Mississippi River.

The center of Hurricane Laura officially made landfall near Cameron, Louisiana on Tuesday night.  Hurricane Laura was the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall on the coast of southwest Louisiana.  Laura was stronger than Hurricane Rita was when Rita made landfall in the same area in September 2005.  The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Laura was 31.6.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 19.6 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 51.2.  Hurricane Laura was capable of causing widespread extensive damage.

A NOAA National Ocean Service weather station at Calcasieu Pass measured a sustained wind speed of 93 m.p.h. (150 km/h) and a wind gust of 127 m.p.h. (204 km/h) during the passage of the northern eyewall.  The station also recorded a water rise of over 10 feet (3 meters).  The National Weather Service station at the Lake Charles airport measured a wind gust of 104 m.p.h. (167 km/h) during the passage of an inner rainband.  There were numerous reports of power outages.

Hurricane Laura will move inland over western Louisiana on Thursday.  The center of Laura will move over southern Arkansas by Thursday night.  Hurricane Laura will continue to cause a significant storm surge along the coast of Louisiana on Thursday morning.  Laura could produce hurricane force winds in Alexandria, Louisiana.  It could bring strong tropical storm force winds to Shreveport and Monroe.  Hurricane Laura will also drop heavy rain over Louisiana and parts of Arkansas.  Flash floods could occur in some locations.

Tropical Storm Barry Brings Wind and Water to Central Gulf Coast

Tropical Storm Barry brought wind and water to the central Gulf Coast on Saturday.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Barry was located at latitude 31.0°N and longitude 93.0°W which put it about 35 miles (55 km) southwest of Alexandria, Louisiana.  Barry was moving toward the north-northwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1002 mb.

Tropical Storm Warnings were still in effect for the portion of the coast from Grand Isle to Cameron, Louisiana, and for New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas.  Several weather stations on the coast of Louisiana were still reporting sustained winds to tropical storm force on Saturday night.

Tropical Storm Barry strengthened into a hurricane prior to making landfall near Intracoastal City, Louisiana on Saturday afternoon.  Then an upper level ridge centered over Texas strengthened after Barry became a hurricane.  The ridge produced north-northeasterly winds at 25 m.p.h. (40 km/h) which blew over the top of former Hurricane Barry.  Those winds created strong vertical wind shear and they blew the top of the circulation south of the lower part of the circulation.  By Saturday night the lower level circulation was over southwestern Louisiana and the top of the circulation was over the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.  Since the lower part of the circulation did not extend as high in the atmosphere, rain near the center of Tropical Storm Barry was relatively light.  Heavier rain fell in bands on the eastern side of Barry.  Heavy rain caused localized flooding in the area around Mobile, Alabama and along the coast of Mississippi.

Tropical Storm Barry did cause minor wind damage over portions of southern Louisiana.  There were reports of downed trees and widespread power outages.  The wind pushed water toward the coast in the eastern half of the circulation and Barry generated a storm surge of 6 feet (2 meters) in several locations.  There was also a rise in the water level along the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain.

Tropical Storm Barry is forecast to move northward over western Louisiana on Sunday.  The water level along the coast should gradually decrease while Barry moves farther inland and weakens.  Rainfall could increase in bands in the eastern side of the circulation on Sunday where the wind will transport moist air from the Gulf of Mexico over Louisiana and Mississippi.  Flash Flood Watches continue for parts of Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama.