It is a meteorological monster that is about to hit the southern United States and the state of Louisiana in particular.
Hurricane Delta, currently in the Gulf of Mexico, is strengthening before making landfall late Friday afternoon (Friday night to Saturday Paris time).
Delta is this Thursday morning a category 2 out of 5 hurricane, according to the NHC, the American hurricane center.
According to the Saffir-Simpson scale, which is the benchmark, the winds of such a category 2 phenomenon are between 154 km / h and 177 km / h on average over one minute.
But the dangerousness of a hurricane is also measured by the amount of rain it pours and its speed of movement.
The slower it progresses, the more time the rain has to cause significant flooding and the wind to sweep away vegetation and structures.
Delta is traveling this Thursday morning at 17 miles, or 27 km / h, which is rather fast.
Strong intensification in the next 24 hours
Delta formed in the Caribbean Sea and quickly strengthened into a so-called major hurricane, that is to say of a category at least equal to 3. This was the case when it hit the Mexican state. of Yucatan.
It then weakened before starting to strengthen again in the Gulf of Mexico.
Its intensification should be very rapid in the next 24 hours.
Delta will then have become a major hurricane again when it hits the American coast of Louisiana.
This part of the United States was already severely tested at the end of August.
This map shows Delta's expected route over the next few days.
NHC
The Louisiana coast is already on hurricane alert.
Floods of up to 3 meters are possible in some areas.
This video from The weather channel shows what it is.
The regions of Lake Charles, Lafayette and Morgan city are the most exposed.
Wondering what 9 feet of storm surge from #Delta could look like?
That's why we're here ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/3nPJnftYNu
- The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) October 8, 2020
Evacuation orders have been issued.
The city of Cameron has not yet lifted the one in effect since Hurricane Laura hit in late August.
Measures have also been taken in Mississippi and Alabama.
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On Wednesday, Delta swept over part of the Mexican states of Yucatan and Quintana Roo.
He caused damage.
But no victim has been identified.
Power lines, signs were torn down and trees uprooted.
5:15 am.
In it.
Getting slammed.
Stronger than I expected.
Near Punta Cancun.
Chasing #Hurricane #DELTA in #Mexico pic.twitter.com/nf0oqih5x0
- Josh Morgerman (@iCyclone) October 7, 2020
The current hurricane season, which officially runs until the end of November, is historic.
The phenomenon number is such that the Greek alphabet is used to name them, hence the name Delta for the hurricane approaching the United States.
In 2005, six phenomena required the use of the Greek alphabet after the classical alphabet was exhausted.
This year, while mid-October is not even reached, Delta is already the fourth.