At 400 PM, the National Hurricane Center reported that Delta was located near latitude 22.1 North, longitude 89.5 West. Delta is moving quickly toward the northwest near 17 mph.
A northwestward motion with a reduction in forward speed is expected through early Thursday. A north-northwestward motion is expected by late Thursday, and a faster northward to north-northeastward motion is forecast on Friday and Friday night.
Delta is forecast to move inland within the hurricane watch area by late Friday or Friday night. Landfall projections show Delta as a category 2 hurricane on Friday in Cameron and/or Vermilion Parish. Data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph with higher gusts. Re-strengthening is forecast when the hurricane moves over the southern and central Gulf of Mexico through Thursday, and Delta is expected to become a major hurricane again.
Some weakening is is forecast as Delta approaches the northern Gulf coast on Friday. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles. The latest minimum central pressure estimated from Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft data is 977 mb (28.85 inches).
Hurricane Watch:
Southeast Texas: Jefferson and Orange County
Southwest Louisiana: Allen, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jeff Davis Parish
South Central Louisiana: Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion Parish
Central Louisiana: Avoyelles and Rapides Parish
Tropical Storm Watch:
Southeast Texas: Hardin, Jasper, Newton County
Southwest Louisiana: Beauregard Parish
Central Louisiana: Vernon Parish
Storm Surge Watch:
Southeast Texas: Jefferson County
Southwest Louisiana: Cameron and Jeff Davis Parish
South Central Louisiana: Acadia, Iberia, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion Parish
Flash Flood Watch:
Southwest Louisiana: Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron Parish
South Central Louisiana: Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion Parish
Central Louisiana: Avoyelles, Rapides, Vernon Parish
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