The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said Wednesday after that Laura, now a major hurricane, has exploded into a Category 4 storm, threatening to bring life-threatening storm surge, extreme winds, and flash flooding over eastern Texas and Louisiana. A storm surge warning is in effect from Freeport, Texas to the mouth of the Mississippi River. "Hurricane Laura is a very dangerous and rapidly intensifying hurricane," the president tweeted. STORM SURGE DURING HURRICANES: WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW CAN YOU PREPAREFlooding will also be widespread from the hurricane. HURRICANE LAURA SPOTTED FROM INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION"If you decide to stay, you’re staying on your own,” Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie said.

Source: Fox News August 26, 2020 09:45 UTC