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Hurricane LAURA


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Hurricane Laura Discussion Number  24
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL132020
400 PM CDT Tue Aug 25 2020
 
Satellite imagery shows some changes in the convective pattern of 
Laura since the last advisory.  The ragged central dense overcast 
seen earlier has been replaced by a curved convective band that 
wraps almost all the way around a cloud-filled banding-type eve. One 
possible reason for this change is that the imagery also suggests a 
tongue of dry air is trying to entrain into the cyclone just west of 
the central convection.  Aircraft data received after the last 
advisory did not show any fall in the central pressure, but did have 
high enough flight-level and SFMR winds to justify nudging the 
initial intensity up to 70 kt.
 
The initial motion is now west-northwestward or 300/15 kt.  There is 
no change in the forecast philosophy since the last advisory. The 
hurricane is currently on the south side of a large-deep layer ridge 
over the southeastern United States, and it is moving toward a break 
in the ridge caused by mid- to -upper-level troughing over Texas and 
the southern Great Plains.  The current and forecast synoptic 
pattern should steer Laura west-northwestward this evening, followed 
by a turn toward the northwest tonight and toward the north by 
Wednesday night and Thursday.  This will result in the hurricane 
making landfall in the area of southwestern Louisiana or the upper 
Texas coast late Wednesday night or Thursday morning. The new 
forecast track has a slight eastward nudge during the first 12-24 h, 
but the landfall position is almost unchanged from that of the 
previous forecast.  It should the be noted that the current forecast 
track lies to the east of the ECMWF and UKMET models, so it is still 
possible that the forecast track could nudge westward in later 
advisories.  After landfall, Laura is expected to recurve into the 
westerlies and move eastward through the Tennessee Valley and the 
mid-Atlantic States before reaching the Atlantic in about 120 h.
 
All indications are that the hurricane should steadily to rapidly 
intensify during the next 24 h, with the only negative factor being 
the possibility of more dry air entrainment.  The intensity forecast 
will go with the scenario that the dry air will not significantly 
hinder strengthening.  The global models are in good agreement that 
Laura will encounter increasing southwesterly shear in the last 6-12 
h before landfall, so the intensity forecast shows slower 
strengthening during that time.  With all that said, the landfall 
intensity of 100 kt is unchanged from the previous advisory.  After 
landfall, Laura should weaken through the 96 h point, followed by 
re-intensification through baroclinic energy as the cyclone becomes 
extratropical.
 
Users are again reminded not to focus on the exact details of the 
track or intensity forecasts as the average NHC track error at 36 h 
is around 60 miles and the average intensity error is close to 10 
mph. In addition, wind, storm surge, and rainfall hazards will 
extend far from the center.
 
Key Messages:
 
1. There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge with large and 
dangerous waves producing potentially catastrophic damage from San 
Luis Pass, Texas, to the Mouth of the Mississippi River, including 
areas inside the Port Arthur Hurricane Flood Protection system. This 
surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate 
coastline in southwestern Louisiana and far southeastern Texas.  
Actions to protect life and property should be rushed to completion 
this evening, as water levels will begin to rise on Wednesday. 

2. Hurricane-force winds are expected Wednesday night in the warning 
area from San Luis Pass, Texas, to west of Morgan City, Louisiana, 
and the strongest winds associated with Laura's eyewall will occur 
somewhere within this area. Hurricane-force winds and widespread 
damaging wind gusts are also expected to spread well inland into 
portions of eastern Texas and western Louisiana early Thursday.

3. The threat of widespread flash and urban flooding along with 
small streams overflowing their banks will increase due to heavy 
rainfall Wednesday night into Thursday from far eastern Texas, 
across Louisiana, and Arkansas.  This will also result in minor to 
isolated moderate river flooding.  The heavy rainfall threat will 
spread northeastward into the middle-Mississippi, lower Ohio and 
Tennessee Valleys Friday night and Saturday. 
 
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
 
INIT  25/2100Z 24.7N  88.3W   70 KT  80 MPH
 12H  26/0600Z 25.7N  90.3W   85 KT 100 MPH
 24H  26/1800Z 27.5N  92.4W   95 KT 110 MPH
 36H  27/0600Z 29.7N  93.8W  100 KT 115 MPH...ON COAST
 48H  27/1800Z 32.2N  93.9W   65 KT  75 MPH...INLAND
 60H  28/0600Z 34.7N  93.3W   40 KT  45 MPH...INLAND
 72H  28/1800Z 36.5N  90.9W   30 KT  35 MPH...INLAND
 96H  29/1800Z 38.5N  80.5W   25 KT  30 MPH...INLAND
120H  30/1800Z 42.0N  66.5W   40 KT  45 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP
 
$$
Forecaster Beven
 
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