Zero-Hour Approaches as Hurricane Laura is Still Intensifying

The latest recon plane entering Hurricane Laura is finding surface wind estimates of 130-135 mph (see 5th image), which would make Laura a Category 4 hurricane. The National Hurricane Center will likely upgrade it with the 2 PM advisory. (1:46 PM edit: The advisory just came in, and it's now up to 140 mph!)

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles has evacuated the building, so that's all you need to know.

A large swath of the coast will literally be inundated (see images below). Perhaps with such a large area of land underwater, it will allow the core of the hurricane to remain intact longer.

The severe weather threat has increased for Long Island for tomorrow afternoon/evening (see last image).