...Lili Strengthens Rapidly To Dangerous Category 4 Hurricane...
... A Hurricane Warning remains in effect from east of High Island Texas to the mouth of the Mississippi River...
... Areas affected... this statement applies to Cameron... Vermilion... Iberia... Saint Mary... Calcasieu... Jefferson Davis... Acadia... LaFayette... upper and lower Saint Martin parishes in southwest Louisiana as well as Jefferson and Orange counties in southeast Texas.
... Watches and warnings... a Hurricane Warning is in effect for Jefferson and Orange counties in southeast Texas... and Cameron... Vermilion... Iberia and St Mary parishes in southwest and south-central Louisiana. A Hurricane Warning means hurricane conditions are possible in the warning area within the next 24 hours.
... Storm information... at 1 PM CDT... the center of Hurricane Lili was located near latitude 25.3 north... longitude 89.4 west or about 390 miles southeast of Cameron Louisiana... 350 miles southeast of Intracoastal City Louisiana... or 415 miles southeast of Sabine Pass Texas.
Hurricane Lili is moving toward the northwest near 15 mph... and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours.
Maximum sustained winds are 135 mph with higher gusts. Lili is a dangerous category 4 hurricane. Some additional strengthening is possible.
... Precautionary/preparedness actions... in southwest Louisiana... mandatory evacuations are in effect for Cameron... Vermilion... Iberia and Saint Mary parishes... as well as Acadia Parish south of Highway 92.
Recommended evacuations are in effect for Calcasieu... Jeff Davis and Saint Martin parishes.
For LaFayette Parish... those in low-lying areas and in Mobile homes should evacuate.
In southeast Texas... evacuations are highly recommended for Jefferson and Orange counties... as well as lower portions of Jasper and Newton counties... including Deweyville and Evadale.
... Storm surge flood and storm tide impacts... a storm surge of 8 to 15 feet above normal tide levels is likely near and to the east of where the center crosses the coast. This surge could spread well inland across the low-lying areas of the Hurricane Warning area. The following table shows the times of high tides:
location
tonight Thursday
Sabine Pass... ... . 258 am 1239 PM
Cameron... ... ... .. 204 am 1253 PM
Vermilion Bay... .. 311 am 1232 PM
... Wind impacts...
over the coastal waters... a Hurricane Warning is in effect. Small craft should remain in port. This afternoon... winds increasing to 25 knots. Seas increasing to 5 feet. Tropical storm force winds are expected tonight with hurricane force winds on Thursday.
Over land...
tropical storm force winds are expected to reach the coast after midnight around Vermilion Bay and before sunrise in Cameron.
... Tornado impacts...
the threat for tornados will be increasing after midnight.
... Rainfall...
the outer rainbands will begin to affect the area tonight and continue to increase during Thursday. Rainfall amounts of 6 to 10 inches will be possible near and to the right of the where the center travels on Thursday.
... Rivers...
major flooding is expected along the Mermentau river. The potential exists for a major flood along the Vermilion river. Moderate flooding is expected along the lower Calcasieu River.
... Next update...
the next local statement on Hurricane Lili will be issued by 500 PM.
For more hurricane information... see the National Hurricane Center web Page at http://www.NHC.NOAA.Gov or the National Weather Service in Lake Charles web Page at http://www.Srh.NOAA.Gov/lch