Laura strengthened to a hurricane Tuesday morning, reaching maximum sustained winds of 75 mph with even stronger gusts as it barrels toward the Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana.
The storm that dumped heavy rain on Cuba may also threaten Florida, the National Hurricane Center Center said.
Hurricane Laura is expected to reach category 3 strength Wednesday as it intensifies over the next 24 to 36 hours in the Gulf of Mexico. It is forecast to make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday near the Texas-Louisiana border, although its projected path could shift.
Rain showers could reach the coast of Texas and Louisiana by Wednesday afternoon with strong winds arriving later in the day.
The storm’s impact is forecast to be felt far away.
This is a developing story; check back for updates.
