US authorities are preparing for a potential Category 4 hurricane event as Hurricane Laura makes its way towards Texas and Louisiana. At the time of writing Laura had strengthened to a category 3 storm, with winds approaching 120 mph, but the storm is rapidly intensifying and could well become a category 4 event, with winds reaching 175 mph across a very wide 70 mile storm front.

The worst of the hurricane is expected to hit the northwestern Gulf Coast from 8pm local time on 26 August. Widespread evacuations in Texas and Louisiana began on 25 August, and more have been ordered today as the intensity of Laura increases. Parts of Louisiana could see a storm surge as high as 15 feet move as far as 30 miles inland.

Ports in the area are preparing. The Port of South Louisiana closed on 25 August, and the Coast Guard has declared Port condition ZULU for 20 miles of the lower Mississippi River, which prohibits vessel movement. Port condition YANKEE has been set from mile marker 20 to mile marker 42, which means vessel traffic control measures are in effect.

At Houston, the port closed both the Bayport and Barbours Cut container terminals at its truck gates at 4pm on August 25 to “ensure our team members are safe and we have the time required to prepare more than 100 pieces of terminal equipment and structures for possibilities of high winds.” The port anticipates it will remain closed on 26 and 27 August.