HURRICANE LAURA MOVES INLAND - NorthWest Louisiana including Caddo & Bossier Parishes are under a Tropical Storm Warning…which is less severe but still a potentially dangerous condition. Chris Nuttall is Senior Meteorologist with the NWS in Shreveport.
"A flash flood threat will increase Thursday as the center of Laura moves closer and overhead," Nutall said. "We'll have an isolated tornado threat which is already ongoing and we'll pretty much continue until Laura exits the area."
A flash flood watch is in effect for much of the Red River Radio listening area until 8:00 AM Friday morning.Laura has weakened to a Category 2
hurricane as its center moved deeper inland over Louisiana. That's no longer a major hurricane but it still has extremely dangerous winds hours after striking the coast. A short while ago, Ken Graham Director for the National Hurricane Center offered this assessment of Hurricane Laura’s most recent position and it’s status.
"The winds are still 100 mph and are moving north at 15 mph," Graham explained, " so it's still a hurricance and why that's important you can still see the eye and they eye's right over DeRidder, Louisiana and Ft. Polk, Louisiana and continuing to move north at 15 mph."
Graham explained the storm's strength still poses a dangerous threat.
"You could still see 100 mph winds and you take that rainfall plus those winds, it can still knock down trees, you can still see those power outages," Graham said.
Right now weather radar shows Laura’s eye is moving …just near Leesville and Ft. Polk and the outerbands are covering Natchitoches, Many, and the Toledo Bend Area. This storm is heading straight for the ArklaTex… you are advised to take precautions and avoid travel and shelter in place. 85 to 90 MPH Windgusts were reported in Alexandria. Tornadoes are possible. The NWS REPORTS Hurricane Laura’s winds are gusting above 100 mph.
A flash flood warning is in effect until 8:15am for Sabine County in Texas, in Louisiana – Sabine, Natchitoches, Winn, Grant, and LaSalle Parishes.
