Tropical Storm Laura strengthens, shifts to the west. What to know along Gulf Coast

Tropical Storm Laura is making its way toward the Gulf Coast, strengthening as it does, and could be battering Mississippi and surrounding states with strong wind and rain as early as Wednesday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Laura is expected to become a hurricane by Monday, just before it hits the Gulf of Mexico.

“There are still uncanny amounts of uncertainty that exist with the tracks, intensities, and possible binary interactions between the two storms (Tropical Depression 14 also could find its way into the Gulf of Mexico) but the latest forecast from NHC places two hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico by Monday evening,” according to the National Weather Service office in Jackson, Mississippi.

Laura’s trajectory has changed, turning its sights away from much of Florida and toward Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana, the latest forecasts show. The Florida Panhandle is also projected to take a hit.

The storm shifted again since 2 p.m., putting the three Mississippi Coast counties in the direct path.

The storm is moving west-northwest at 17 mph as of 5 p.m. ET Friday, with 45-mph sustained winds. Laura is expected to pass over the Leeward Islands Friday, and either hit or pass by Puerto Rico on Saturday.

Between 3 and 6 inches of rain are forecast for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic and southern Haitian peninsula, and up to 8 inches in some places.

Tropical storm warnings are in effect for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, and many other areas caught in Laura’s path.

The track is uncertain and could change before the storm makes landfall, forecasters said.

This story was originally published August 21, 2020 at 2:59 PM.