This terrifying animation shows how high Hurricane Laura's storm surge might get
If the National Hurricane Center's word on Hurricane Laura's devastation isn't good enough, the Weather Channel has some visuals.
On Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center forecast the Louisiana and eastern Texas coasts would see an "unsurvivable storm surge" of 10–20 feet as a Category 4 Laura pulled in; Al Roker said he'd never heard the term used before. The Weather Channel also seemed unprepared for a surge of that magnitude. Its graphics could only show what a storm surge would look like at nine feet, but that was terrifying enough.
The National Hurricane Center has forecasted "unsurvivable storm surge" from Hurricane #Laura in parts of Louisiana and Texas. Do NOT underestimate this storm.
This is what that kind of water height looks like: pic.twitter.com/ik7EtpFTzn
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) August 26, 2020
ABC News took a different approach with its storm surge animation, showing how quickly the water could flow into and fill up a home.
Hurricane Laura is expected to cause 10-20 feet of storm surge as it closes in on the Louisiana and Texas coast. @Ginger_Zee explains the science behind storm surge, which is often the greatest threat to life and property during a hurricane. https://t.co/VftCuDzjC6 pic.twitter.com/u0Tjnr47IC
— ABC News (@ABC) August 26, 2020
And as these photos show, even with Laura still 200 miles offshore at mid-day Wednesday, the storm surge was already piling in.
LA 1 remains CLOSED at this time south of the Leon Theriot Lock in Golden Meadow. Here are photos in that area from Golden Meadow and Leeville. #Laura pic.twitter.com/e6JyeJVmpJ
— Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office (@LafourcheSO) August 26, 2020
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