Hurricane Delta heading for Gulf Coast next

Storm tracking into same area as Hurricane Laura did in late August.

Hurricane Delta blasted into Cancun early Wednesday and caused damage to some of the hotels in the resort area.

Delta, fortunately, weakened a bit before landfall near Cancun. But the storm is now heading for open water again. Delta is expected to reintensify as it moves into open waters in the western Gulf of Mexico.

Delta is currently forecast to regain Category 3 intensity briefly in the Gulf. It is forecast to be at or near Category 2 strength at landfall. That landfall is most likely to occur along the Louisiana coast sometime Friday.

Hurricane Delta forecast track
Hurricane Delta forecast track
NOAA/National Hurricane Center

Storm surge is likely to reach 3 to 9 feet along the Louisana coastline Friday.

Storm surge forecast for Hurricane Delta
Storm surge forecast for Hurricane Delta
NOAA/National Hurricane Center

Still cleaning up from Laura

Most forecast models take Delta into roughly the same area as Hurricane Laura hit in late August. There is still significant damage there. You can see the myriad of blue tarps still visible from roof damage from Laura.

2020: Record billion-dollar weather disaster year

It figures. Delta heads for the U.S. coast after 17 billion-dollar weather disasters so far this year. That ties the record for the highest number of (inflation-adjusted) billion-dollar weather disasters set in 2011 and 2017.

Enough already, 2020.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.