Hurricane Nate is gathering strength in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to slam into the Gulf Coast late Saturday night and into the early hours of Sunday morning.
Hurricane watchers say the area of greatest impact will be between New Orleans, Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama. However, parts of the Gulf Coast stretching into the panhandle of Florida, as far east as Pensacola, will be affected by high winds and storm surges.
Although Nate remained a Category 1 storm most of Saturday, with wind speeds approaching 90 miles per hour, it will increase in intensity as it gathers strength from the warm waters of the gulf which range upward of 80 degrees.
Once the winds surpass 95 miles per hour, which forecasters predict will happen before Nate makes landfall, the storm will be upgraded to a Category 2 hurricane.
Gulf Coast residents are expected to feel the brunt of the hurricane between 11:00 p.m. Saturday and 3:00 a.m. Sunday. Storm surges could reach up to nine feet in the hardest hit areas; and, come in at six feet and three feet in other areas along the coast.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards urged his state’s residents to take Nate seriously, saying the storm “has the potential to do a lot of damage,” adding, “No one should take this storm lightly. It has already claimed the lives of at least 20 people,” he said, referring to the death toll in Central America.
“We do want people to be very, very cautious and to not take this storm for granted,” he said.
Evacuations were ordered for parts of Louisiana east of New Orleans
Mitch Landrieu, mayor of New Orleans, advised other residents in low-lying areas to move to higher ground. He also said he’ll impose a curfew in the city from 6:00 p.m. Saturday to 6:00 a.m. Sunday.
“There is no need to panic,” he tweeted, “Be ready and prepare. Get a plan. Prepare to protect your personal property.”
There is no need to panic. Be ready and prepare. Get a plan. Prepare to protect your personal property.
— Mitch Landrieu (@MayorLandrieu) October 5, 2017
Meanwhile, President Trump tweeted about the impending storm saying, “Our great team at FEMA is prepared for Hurricane Nate. Everyone in Lousiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, please listen to your local authorities and be safe!”
Our great team at @FEMA is prepared for #HurricaneNate. Everyone in LA, MS, AL, and FL please listen to your local authorities & be safe!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017
The U.S. Coast Guard ordered all ports from New Orleans to Pensacola, Florida, to be shuttered Saturday before the storm hit the region due to the expected storm surges, Reuters reported.
The storm is somewhat fast-moving, at a speed of 26 miles per hour, which is relatively good news in that the soaking rains accompanied with it will move out of the affected areas rather quickly. After making landfall late Saturday into early Sunday, Nate is expected to track to the northwest, dumping heavy rains on parts of Alabama and Georgia north of Atlanta, and points beyond.
