Laura is forecast to be a 'major' Category 3 hurricane at landfall. What does this mean?

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What does Tropical Storm Laura look like from above? Video from NASA and NOAA Hurricane Hunters provides a unique view. Wochit

Hurricane Laura is forecast to approach the coasts of upper Texas and southwest Louisiana Wednesday night into Thursday as a “major hurricane.”

The National Hurricane Center said Laura is expected to move over the central and northwestern Gulf of Mexico Tuesday night and Wednesday before approaching the coast on Wednesday night.

It will likely make landfall as a “major hurricane,” meaning the storm would at least need to be a Category 3, according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. 

Laura — the third named hurricane and 12th named storm of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season — is the earliest named “L” storm on record, beating out Luis in 1995.

Laura will be the second hurricane this season to hit Texas after Hanna made landfall near Corpus Christi in July. 

Evacuations: Galveston issues mandatory evacuation order as Hurricane Laura approaches

NHC updates: Hurricane Laura strengthens Tuesday, forecast to approach Texas coast Wednesday night

Here’s what a Category 3 storm could mean for Texas. 

How strong is a Category 3?

A Category 3 storm has sustained winds of 111-129 mph and will cause devastating damage, according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. 

A Category 2 storm has sustained winds of 96-110 mph and will cause extremely dangerous winds and extensive damage. 

Tracking Laura: Laura strengthens to Category 1 hurricane. See its track toward Texas.

What makes a “major” hurricane?

A “major” hurricane is any hurricane ranked as a Category 3, 4 or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 

These are hurricanes with sustained winds of at least 111 mph or more than 157 mph. Major hurricanes cause devastating and catastrophic damage. 

What damage can a Category 3 storm do?

A Category 3 storm may incur major damage to well-built framed homes, including removal of roof decking and gable ends, according to the Saffir-Simpson scale. 

Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power lines will come down. Category 3 storms are known for knocking out power and electricity for days, or even weeks, after a storm passes. 

Hurricane Hanna damage: A breakdown of Hurricane Hanna damage reports, aftermath

What category was Hurricane Katrina? Harvey?

Hurricane Katrina made landfall in August 2005 and strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico ahead of making its second landfall as a Category 3 in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas and Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane in August 2017. 

15 year anniversary of Katrina: Fifteen years and $15 billion since Katrina, New Orleans is more prepared for a major hurricane – for now

What other major hurricanes have impacted Texas?

Here are some of the most powerful hurricanes to make landfall in Texas:

• The 1990 Galveston hurricane is known as the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, causing between 6,000 and 12,000 fatalities and costing about $35 million (or nearly $1 billion 2020 USD) in damage.
• Hurricane Rita made landfall east of the Texas-Louisiana border as a Category 3 in September 2005 and caused more than $12 billion in damage.
• Hurricane Ike strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane before making landfall in Galveston as a Category 2 in September 2008, causing nearly $30 billion in damage.
• Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas and Louisiana in August 2017 as a Category 4, causing $127 billion in damage.

Daniella Medina is a digital producer for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach her at dmedina@gannett.com or on Twitter @danimedinanews. 

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