"Laura" is the Latest Destructive Gulf Hurricane

Hurricane Laura nearing the Louisiana Coast (Source: WUSA9)

Hurricane Laura not only became the Atlantic's first major hurricane of 2020, but it also intensified at an exceptionally fast rate.  Its sustained winds increased in a 24-hour period from a minimal 75 mph Category 1 hurricane to a powerful 140 mph Category 4 as it accelerated northwestward in the Gulf of Mexico.  Similar to Hurricane Michael in October 2018, Laura continued to intensify right up until it made landfall late last night near the Texas/Louisiana border.

Hurricane Michael also tracked through the Gulf of Mexico and had very favorable conditions for rapid intensification.  Consequently, Michael intensified to a rare Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 160 mph and a minimum central air pressure of 919 millibars (millibars is abbreviated as "mb").  By comparison, Laura's peak intensity was as a strong Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 150 mph and a minimum air pressure of 937 mb.  Standard sea level air pressure is 1013.25 mb.  Based on Laura’s 150 mph winds at landfall, it tied with an unnamed 1856 hurricane as strongest to make landfall in Louisiana.  Laura also had the fourth lowest air pressure (938 mb) of any landfalling hurricane in Louisiana (behind 2005’s Katrina, 920 mb, the 1856 “Last Island” hurricane, 934 mb, and Rita, 937 mb, also 2005).

Although Hurricane Laura weakened overnight since making landfall, its devastating impacts will be far-reaching.  In addition to a dangerous storm surge along the Gulf Coast, flooding rainfall, exceptionally high winds and isolated tornadoes will continue.  While hurricane-spawned tornadoes aren't usually as strong as tornadoes spawned by supercell thunderstorms, they're even more dangerous in one regard.  That's because tornadoes in landfalling tropical systems are often obscured by heavy rainfall.  Laura will continue to weaken as it moves further inland and will no longer be a hurricane or tropical storm.  Its remnants will bring the DC Metro Area heavy rain and gusty winds on Saturday.  

Laura's track through the Gulf of Mexico was similar to other significant hurricanes that have occurred during the last 15 years.  The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the busiest on record with 28 named tropical storms and 15 hurricanes.  Of those 15 hurricanes, a season record of four Category 5 hurricanes developed, most notably Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma.  Also, Hurricane Rita occurred just a few weeks after Katrina and was also a Category 5 hurricane over the open Gulf of Mexico.  Fortunately, it weakened to a Category 3 storm before it made landfall in a similar location to Laura near the Texas/Louisiana border.

Hurricane Ike in 2008 was another storm that made landfall in eastern Texas, a little further west than Laura and Rita, as a strong Category 2 storm with sustained winds of 110 mph.  While not as strong at its time of landfall as Laura or Rita were, Ike's wind field was quite large and that resulted in more damage than it otherwise would have.  Since Hurricane Laura is ongoing, it will be some time its toll in terms of damage and loss of life is determined.  What can be assumed now is that the World Meteorological Organization will likely retire the name “Laura” after the hurricane season ends for being so destructive and deadly.