August 25, 2020

UPDATED: 7 AM CDT
 

Laura Now Just Below Hurricane Strength Forecast To Become A Major Hurricane Over The Northwestern Gulf Of Mexico On Wednesday

The National Hurricane Center is issuing new advisories on Tropical Storm Laura. The center of the depression was located near latitude 23.4 North, longitude, 86.4 West. The storm is moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph (22 km/h).  
 
Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days, and the storm is expected to become a hurricane by Wednesday.

A STORM SURGE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR:

• SAN LUIS PASS TEXAS TO OCEAN SPRINGS MISSISSIPPI
• LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN, LAKE MAUREPAS, AND LAKE BORGNE

 
A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR...

• SAN LUIS PASS TEXAS TO WEST OF MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA

 
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR:

• CUBAN PROVINCES OF VILLA CLARA, CIENFUEGOS, MATANZAS, MAYABEQUE, LA HABANA, ARTEMISA, PINAR DEL RIO, AND THE ISLE OF YOUTH
• DRY TORTUGAS

 
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR:

• SAN LUIS PASS TO FREEPORT TEXAS
• MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA TO THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.  A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, generally within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service.

Hurricane and Storm Surge Warnings will likely be issued later today for portions of the Texas and Louisiana coasts.

For storm information specific to your area, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.
 

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FMCSA ISSUES EMERGENCY DECLARATION - HOS WAIVER

In response to Hurricanes or Tropical Storms Laura and Marco, (FMCSA)declared that an emergency exists that warrants issuance of a Regional Emergency Declaration and an exemption from Parts 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). 

This Declaration addresses the emergency conditions creating a need for immediate transportation of supplies, goods, equipment, fuel, and persons and provides necessary relief. Affected States included in this Emergency Declaration are: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
By execution of this Emergency Declaration, motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance to the emergency in the Affected States in direct support of relief efforts related to Hurricanes or Tropical Storms Laura and Marco are granted relief from Parts 390 through 399 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations except as restricted herein.

View the declaration here.

Please follow the National Hurricane Center for the latest information on tropical storms.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Scott Fisher, Sr. VP of Policy & Public Affairs, at sfisher@tffa.com or 512-894-0658.