Hurricane Warnings Up Ahead of Nate's Arrival

Hurricane Warnings are now up ahead of Nate's expected arrival on the US Gulf Coast. Image: NHC — Hurricane Warnings are now up ahead of Nate’s expected arrival on the US Gulf Coast. Image: NHC

Hurricane Warnings are now up for portions of the Gulf Coast where Nate, as a hurricane, is forecast to make landfall this weekend. A Hurricane Warning is now in effect from Grand Isle, Louisiana to the Alabama/Florida border. A Storm Surge Warning is now in effect from Morgan City, Louisiana to the Alabama/Florida border, and for the northern and western shores of Lake Pontchartrain. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion in Hurricane Warning areas; residents and visitors in this region should act on their Hurricane Action Plan now.

Tropical Storm Force winds are likely over a narrow area of the Gulf Coast as Hurricane Nate makes landfall. There's also a chance of tropical storm force winds over portions of the Mid Atlantic and New England as Nate's remnants quickly move through the eastern US over the next 72 to 96 hours. Image: NHC — Tropical Storm Force winds are likely over a narrow area of the Gulf Coast as Hurricane Nate makes landfall. There’s also a chance of tropical storm force winds over portions of the Mid Atlantic and New England as Nate’s remnants quickly move through the eastern US over the next 72 to 96 hours. Image: NHC

A Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect for metropolitan New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas, and from west of Grand Isle to Morgan City, Louisiana. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.

A Hurricane Watch is now in effect east of the Alabama/Florida border to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.

A Storm Surge Watch is now in effect east of the Alabama/Florida border to Indian Pass, Florida. 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 Tropical Storm Watch is now in effect east of the Okaloosa/Walton County Line to Indian Pass, Florida. A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

The Government of Cuba has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the Provence of Pinar del Rio and a Tropical Storm Watch for the Provence of the Isle of Youth.

Heavy rain from Nate is expected over the next several days; this map reflects expected amounts over the next 5 days. Image: NWS

Heavy rain, upwards of a foot, could fall across the central Gulf coast. Heavy rain won’t be limited to the landfall area though; soaking rains are expected across a large part of the eastern US, with amounts over 6″ possible around the Appalachian Mountains.