Hurricane Laura Strengthens To Category 4 - And Threatens 'Unsurvivable' Storm Surge

Hurricane Laura is closing in on the northwest Gulf Coast and is expected to bring extreme winds and "catastrophic" storm surge to parts of Texas and Louisiana starting Wednesday night, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The center said Laura is an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 hurricane, now with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph - just 7 mph short of Category 5 classification. That would make Laura the fourth Category 4 storm to strike Louisiana in modern history.

The storm has ramped up quickly, intensifying by 65 miles per hour in a 24-hour period. And forecasters say it could continue to strengthen before it reaches the coast.

https://www.npr.org/2020/08/26/906203511/hurricane-laura-forecast-to-bring-unsurvivable-storm-surge-as-category-4-storm?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20200826&utm_term=4780229&utm_campaign=breaking-news&utm_id=48780983&orgid=309