Forecast: Hurricane Nate could be Category 2 at landfall

The Gulf Coast is bracing for landfall of Hurricane Nate, which is strengthened on its north-northwest track overnight and is expected to be a Category 2 storm when it makes landfall, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The center’s 2 p.m. update said the storm was moving at 25 mph through the Gulf of Mexico. The storm’s outer rain bands were moving onshore in southeastern Louisiana on Saturday afternoon.

The current Category 1 hurricane has sustained winds near 90 mph, the hurricane center says.

Louisiana and Mississippi officials declared states of state of emergency, and Louisiana ordered some people to evacuate coastal areas and barrier islands ahead of its expected landfall Saturday night or early Sunday. Evacuations began at some offshore oil platforms in the Gulf.

A hurricane watch has been issued for Grand Isle, La., to the Alabama-Florida border.

The hurricane center warned that Nate could raise sea levels by 4 to 7 feet from Morgan City, La., to the Alabama-Florida border. It had already had caused deadly flooding in much of Central America. The storm has been blamed for at least 21 deaths.

Tropical weather track

Reload page every few hours for the latest tracking information.

Source: National Hurricane Center

In Louisiana, Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency and mobilized 1,300 National Guard troops, with 15 headed to New Orleans to monitor the fragile pumping system there.

Louisiana’s governor said Nate is forecast to move quickly, rather than stall and drop tremendous amounts of rain on the state. State officials hope that means New Orleans won’t run into problems with its pumps being able to handle the water.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for west of Grand Isle to Morgan City, La., and portions of the Florida Panhandle.

Life-threatening surf and rip currents are possible on the Gulf Coast for the next several days, according to the hurricane center.

The storm’s current track puts the storm west of South Carolina at the beginning of next week.

This story was originally published October 7, 2017 at 8:25 AM with the headline "Forecast: Hurricane Nate could be Category 2 at landfall."