Hurricane Nate – the ninth hurricane of the hyperactive 2017 Atlantic hurricane season – made landfall around 7:00 p.m. CDT near the Mouth of the Mississippi River in Southeastern Louisiana. Nate is the third hurricane to make landfall in the United States this season (the fourth if Hurricane Maria’s landfall in Puerto Rico is included). This season has featured the most hurricanes to make landfall in the United States since 2008. Nate has almost certainly peaked in intensity and is on a slow weakening trend this evening as it nears the coast.

As of 7:00 p.m. CDT (8:00 p.m. EDT), Hurricane Nate was centered near 29.0°N 89.2°W, and was moving northward at about 20 mph. Maximum sustained winds were 75 knots (85 mph), with an estimated minimum pressure of 982 mb. This makes Nate a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Nate reached its peak intensity earlier this afternoon, with maximum sustained winds of 80 knots (90 mph) and an estimated minimum pressure of 981 mb. Nearly all of the strong winds associated with Nate are located east of the center. Nate is expected to make a second landfall in Mississippi within the next several hours. Nate is expected to accelerate to the northeast on Sunday, and will likely become post-tropical on Monday.

A Hurricane Warning remains in effect from Grand Isle Louisiana to the Alabama/Florida border. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, West of Grand Isle to Morgan City Louisiana, and East of the Alabama/Florida border to Indian Pass Florida. A Storm Surge Warning is in effect from Grand Isle Louisiana to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line Florida, and Northern and western shores of Lake Pontchartrain. Finally, a Hurricane Watch is in effect from East of the Alabama/Florida border to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line.

Subtropical disturbance 91L over the open Atlantic may develop

An area of low pressure – Invest 91L – has developed along a frontal boundary. This disturbance has a high chance of becoming a subtropical or tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) gives 91L a 70 percent chance of development, both within 48 hours and five days. As of 00:00 UTC Sunday, Invest 91L was centered near 31.3°N 39.5°W, and was nearly stationary. Maximum sustained winds were 30 knots (35 mph), with an estimated minimum pressure of 1010 mb. 91L is unlikely to become a hurricane, and should remain far from any land areas. The next name on the Atlantic naming list is Ophelia.

I will be back with another post tomorrow.