"Delta is strengthening," said the National Hurricane Center Thursday afternoon, as the hurricane's maximum sustanined winds increased to 115 miles per hour, making Delta once again a major category 3 storm.
More strengthening is possible over the next 12 hours. The NHC says after that point, wind shear and moving over cooler Gulf waters should lead to some slight weakening, though Delta could be a very strong storm at landfall in southwest Louisiana, an area already reeling from Hurricane Laura earlier this season.
Impacts from Delta will be felt well to the east of its center, and tropical storm force winds, storm surge and rain from tropical bands remain a threat for southeast Louisiana, including New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
A Storm Surge Warning and Tropical Storm Warning are in effect for Assumption, Lower Jefferson, Lower Lafourche, Lower Plaquemines, Lower St. Bernard, Lower Terrebonne, Orleans, Southern Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, Upper Lafourche, Upper St. Bernard, and Upper Terrebonne
A Tropical Storm Warning and Storm Surge Watch are in effect for Ascension, Iberville, Livingston, and St. John The Baptist
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Amite, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Northern Tangipahoa, Pointe Coupee, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, Upper Jefferson, Upper Plaquemines, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana, and Wilkinson
A Storm Surge Warning and Tropical Storm Watch are in effect for Hancock
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Harrison
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Pearl River, Pike, Walthall, and Washington
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
High Island Texas to Ocean Springs Mississippi including Calcasieu Lake, Vermilion Bay, Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Borgne
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
High Island Texas to Morgan City Louisiana
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
West of High Island to Sargent Texas
East of Morgan City Louisiana to the mouth of the Pearl River, including New Orleans
Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
East of the mouth of the Pearl River to Bay St. Louis Mississippi