Hurricane Laura remains in Gulf of Mexico; Expected to be major hurricane at landfall on Thursday

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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 — which strengthened to a Category 1 on Tuesday morning —is strengthening in the Gulf of Mexico and expected to make landfall Thursday morning. And when it does, it’s expected to be a “major hurricane” according to the national Hurricane Center. 

Significant strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours. A “major” hurricane applies to hurricanes ranked as a Category 3, 4 or 5. 

Laura is expected to approach the upper Texas and southwest Louisiana coasts on Wednesday night, then move inland near those areas on Thursday, the 10 p.m NHC advisory said. 

Rapid weakening is expected after Laura makes landfall, the NHC said.

More: Laura, now a hurricane, forecast to hit Gulf Coast as ‘major’ Category 3

Category 3: What does it mean?

As of 10 p.m, Laura was recorded by the NOAA and Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft as having maximum sustained winds of 90 mph. It is located 430 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas.

Laura is moving west-northwest at 17 mph.

Hurricane Laura watches and warnings

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for 

• San Luis Pass, Texas to the Mouth of the Mississippi River

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for

• San Luis Pass, Texas to Intracoastal City, Louisiana

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for

• Sargent, Texas to San Luis Pass
• East of Intracoastal City, Louisiana to the Mouth of the Mississippi River

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for

• Freeport, Texas to San Luis Pass
• Mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs, Mississippi
• Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Borgne

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for

• East of Intracoastal City to west of Morgan City, Louisiana

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With a car full of pets, one owner evacuates her home in Beaumont in Jefferson County to ride out Hurricane Laura away from the coast. Storyful

When will Laura hit the coast?

(Tip: If the map above doesn’t load, click here.)

More tracker maps: Tropical Storm Laura spaghetti models

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