
Hurricane Delta regained strength over the Gulf of Mexico and is forecast to make landfall as a Category 3 storm in Louisiana later today.
The Gulf Coast, including areas still reeling from Hurricane Laura, is expected to see life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds and flooding from Louisiana and east Texas to Mississippi, according to The Weather Channel.
Coastal Louisiana has not yet recovered from Laura, which caused more than $14 billion in damage and killed at least 26 people. Thousands of evacuees remain in hotels around the state, according to USA Today.
Delta was about 160 miles south of Cameron, La., at 8 a.m. and was moving north at 10 to 15 mph. The storm is expected to produce 5 to 10 inches of rain Friday and Saturday, with isolated areas of 15 inches.
⚠️🌊 HIGH #RipCurrent Risk means the surf is dangerous for *ALL LEVELS* of swimmers. 🏊 Always follow the advice of local beach patrol & beach flags.
🏖️ Be #BeachSmart! #Delta pic.twitter.com/ERmywt75tx
— NWS Mobile (@NWSMobile) October 9, 2020
There have been 16, $1 billion weather-related disasters this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Eleven were due to severe storms, across more than 30 states, and the remaining five comprise a wildfire, a drought and three tropical cyclones.
This year has tied 2011 and 2017 for the largest number of disasters in a calendar year. It’s also a record sixth consecutive year with 10 or more billion-dollar disasters in the United States.