Good Tuesday morning to all.

The latest (5:00am EDT) National Hurricane Center Forecast update shows that Hurricane Delta has rapidly intensified as expected in the very warm waters south of Cuba. It is now a Category 2 Hurricane with max sustained winds of 100 mph and its movement is west-northwest at 15 mph. It is expected to continue to intensify into a Category 3 Hurricane later today, and will likely brush the northeastern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula as a Category 4 Hurricane on Wednesday before entering the Gulf of Mexico. Some weakening may occur after Delta moves over the Peninsula, but it is expected to re-intensify into a Category 4 Hurricane as it moves into the Central Gulf of Mexico.

Delta is forecast to weaken slightly as it approaches the southern LA coastline on Friday. Tropical Storm Force Winds of 39 mph or greater could begin along portions of the LA, MS, AL, and far northwest FL coastlines as early as Thursday evening. The “Cone of Uncertainty” has once again shifted very slightly to the west, with a now projected landfall due south of Morgan City, LA, sometime Friday night or early Saturday morning, possibly as a Category 3 Hurricane, but likely as a Category 2, with sustained winds in the 95 to 105 mph range at minimum.

A “Hurricane Warning” has been issued for the northern Yucatan Peninsula, and the Cayman Islands and Cancun could be battered by Hurricane Delta on Wednesday. It is highly recommended that Hurricane preparations begin immediately for those living along the southern LA, MS and AL coastlines. - Sid Sperry, OAEC