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AccuWeather Meteorologist and Social Media Manager Jesse Ferrell covers extreme weather and the intersection of meteorology and social media.
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Hurricane Laura slams into LA, TX with devastating 150-mph winds
Massive damage reported, weather stations clock crazy wind gusts
Published Aug 27, 2020 9:26 PM EST
Hurricane Laura slammed into the coast just east of the Texas and Louisiana border in the middle of the night with 150-mph winds, tying for the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the latter state.
A radar image of Laura making landfall near Cameron, Louisiana, early Thursday morning. (AccuWeather)
Although population was low, damage was still extensive. As of this writing, 950,000 customers are without power into Arkansas. At least 6 people have been killed. Additional information can be found in our wrap-up news story.
The headlines from NWS spotter reports first thing this morning were terrifying:
Hurricane Laura Spotter Reports
Winds were clocked as high as 137 mph by an amateur weather station, and 132 mph by the official airport instrument at Lake Charles Regional Airport, 25 miles inland -- before it was destroyed. WeatherFlow HurrTrack stations in the area clocked winds between 110 and 132 mph as well.
Top wind gusts from Hurricane Laura
The NEXRAD Doppler Radar at Lake Charles airport clocked winds in the atmosphere as high as 223 mph but was destroyed by the storm (they are rated for 134-mph winds and it detected 180-mph winds over land before it stopped transmitting).
Analysis of highest wind gusts from Hurricane Laura
Cameron: 137 mph (Davis Amateur Station)
Lake Charles (Regional Apt.): 132 mph
Lake Charles (Chennault Apt.): 132 mph (WeatherFLOW Hurrtrack)
Calcasieu Pass: 127 mph
Cameron: 116 mph (WeatherFLOW Hurrtrack)
Sulphur: 110 mph (WeatherFLOW Hurrtrack)
Shell Alcyone Buoy: 107 mph
Rainfall from Hurricane Laura through 1 p.m. August 27, 2020. Gauge amounts plotted; central Louisiana radar estimate (color) underestimated due to multiple radar outages.
Some of the highest rain gauge amounts through 1 p.m.:
Church Point, LA: 8.28"
Carencro, LA: 7.99"
Bon Weir, TX: 7.91"
Layfayette, LA: 7.75"
Rayne, LA: 7.17"
Although a storm surge as high as 20 to 25 feet was forecast, the highest observed was 8.88 feet at Calcasieu Pass, near landfall. However, it was likely higher in areas where there are no weather sensors.
Laura exploded in intensity yesterday, setting a new record.
Early yesterday morning, the storm was causing waves over 37 feet and winds of 107 mph.
These loops show Laura during much of its life:
AccuWeather Hurricane Laura Satellite Loop
AccuWeather Radar Loop for Hurricane Laura
Debris surround damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)