Tropical Storm Nate strengthened Friday evening as it moved through the Yucatan Peninsula, the National Hurricane Center said.
Oct. 6 (UPI) — Tropical Storm Nate strengthened Friday evening as it moved through the Yucatan Peninsula, the National Hurricane Center said.
In its 8 p.m. advisory, the NHC said Nate was located about 90 miles northeast of Cozumel, Mexico, and about 570 south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. It’s moving north-northwest at 22 mph.
Nate has maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. The storm has been deadly in parts of Central America, killing at least 22 people in floods and mudslides.
There have been no changes to watches and warnings since the NHC’s last update at 5 p.m.
A hurricane warning was in effect for Grand Isle, La., east to the Alabama/Florida border, and metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana. There were a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning in effect for Punta Herrero to Rio Lagartos, Mexico; Pinar del Rio, Mexico; metropolitan New Orleans; Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas in Louisiana; west of Grand Isle to Morgan City, La.; and east of the Alabama/Florida border to the Okaloosa/Walton county line in Florida.
Tropical storm watches were issued for east of the Okaloosa/Walton county line to Indian Pass, Fla.; west of Morgan City to Intracoastal City, La.; Isle of Youth; and the Alabama/Florida border east to the Okaloosa/Walton county line.
Storm surge warnings were issued in Morgan City, La., to the Alabama/Florida border, and the northern and western shores of Lake Pontchartrain. There was a storm surge watch east of the Alabama/Florida border to Indian Pass, Fla.
The storm is expected to move north-northwest through Saturday before turning north and northeast Saturday night and Sunday.
“On the forecast track, the center of Nate will move near or over the northeastern coast of the Yucatan peninsula [Friday] evening,” the NHC said. “Nate will then move into the southern Gulf of Mexico [Friday night], approach the northern Gulf coast Saturday, and then move make landfall over the northern Gulf coast Saturday night or Sunday.”
Landfall is likely to take place near New Orleans.
Including Nate, there have been 13 tropical storms, eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes so far this season.
