tropical depression

Laura weakens to Tropical Storm; still tracking north across Louisiana

Thursday, August 27, 2020
WATCH: From tremendous wind and rains to gutted buildings, here's what Hurricane Laura looked like from the ground.
SHREVEPORT, La. -- Hurricane Laura made landfall Thursday morning in southwest Louisiana as an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm, forecasters said.

As of 1 p.m. EST, the National Hurricane Center reported Laura had been downgraded to a Tropical Storm with maxiumum sustained winds of 70 mph.

Laura is moving north at 15 mph, a brisk pace and good news for keeping rain totals down. The eye is about 50 miles east-southeast of Shreveport, Louisiana.

WATCH: Damage caused by Laura during landfall
What Laura's landfall looked like in LA and TX


Laura is now responsible for at least one US death, a 14-year-old girl killed by a falling tree in Vernon Parish, Louisiana.

The National Hurricane Center said the storm made landfall near Cameron, Louisiana, around 2 a.m. It was a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 kph), making it the most powerful hurricane to strike the U.S. so far this year.

The storm's power has raised fears of a 20-foot (6-meter) storm surge that forecasters say would be "unsurvivable" and capable of sinking entire communities on the Texas and Louisiana coast. The surge could penetrate up to 40 miles inland from the coastline.

Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses are without power in Louisiana and Texas. Some of those communities could be without power for weeks, according to local officials.

Hurricane-force winds continued through the morning, with forecasters downgrading Laura to a Category 1 storm by 11 a.m. EST.

Laura a Category 3 storm moving north in western La.


Hurricane categories: Learn what the numbers mean

Before the storm became a hurricane, Laura was blamed for 11 deaths in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, where the storm knocked out power and caused major flooding.

Dustin Amos, right, walks near debris at a gas station on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Laura moved through the state.AP
A tree is uprooted in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Sabine Pass, Texas.AP
Dustin Amos walks near debris at a gas station on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Laura moved through the state.AP
A woman passes on a street near businesses on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in downtown Lake Charles, La., in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura.AP
Debris is seen near a business on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura.AP
A truck and Interstate 10 sign is seen on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Laura moved through the state.AP
Chris Johnson views destruction at his home on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Laura moved through the state.AP
Brian McClendon sorts through debris at his home on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura.AP
Reginald Duhon prepares to work at his home on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Laura moved through the state.AP
People walk past a destroyed building after the passing of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana on August 27, 2020.none
A man rests in front of his house after the passing of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana on August 27, 2020.none
People walk past a destroyed building after the passing of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana on August 27, 2020.none
People walk past a destroyed building after the passing of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana on August 27, 2020.none
A woman walks down a street filled with debris after the passing of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana on August 27, 2020.none
Kyana Myers looks into a room that had its roof blown off as Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
People stand next to a hotel that had parts of its roof blown off as Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
A Lake Charles police officer helps clear the streets in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
A road is blocked off by destroyed trees after the passing of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana on August 27, 2020.none
A person stands next to a hotel that had parts of its roof blown off as Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiananone
A room that had its roof blown off is seen in a hotel after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiananone
Mitch Pickering plays his guitar while walking through the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiananone
An escalator is seen in Capita One Bank Tower that had its windows blown out in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiananone
A street is seen strewn with debris and downed power lines after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
Reagan Cotten and Kate Cotten walk through the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
Joyce vanDenberg and Kyana Myers stand next to a hotel that had parts of its roof blown off as Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles.none
A person is seen walking through Capital One Bank Tower with its windows blown out in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles.none
Capital One Bank Tower is seen with its windows blown out in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
People stand next to a hotel that had parts of its roof blown off as Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
Lake Charles police officers help clear the roads in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
A Lake Charles police officer helps clear the streets in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
Donnie Rogers prepares to raise the American flag on a pole after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
Flooding is seen from Hurricane Laura August 27, 2020, in Sabine Pass, Texas. Hurricane Laura came ashore bringing rain and high winds to the eastern part of the state.none
Flooding caused by Hurricane Laura on August 27, 2020, in Sabine Pass, Texas. Hurricane Laura came ashore bringing rain and high winds to the eastern part of the state.none
A building that was damaged overnight by Hurricane Laura stands in Lake Charles, La., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020.AP
Daoith Porm, right, and Bunsant Khov, left, board their business with Hurricane Laura just hours away, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in Bridge City, Texas.AP
Daoith Porm, left, and Bunsant Khov, right, board their business with Hurricane Laura just hours away, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in Bridge City, Texas.AP
Families in Beaumont, Texas, prepare to board a charter bus to be evacuated to North Texas ahead of Hurricane Laura.AccuWeather
Families in Beaumont, Texas, prepare to board a charter bus to be evacuated to North Texas ahead of Hurricane Laura.AccuWeather
Families in Beaumont, Texas, prepare to board a charter bus to be evacuated to North Texas ahead of Hurricane Laura.AccuWeather
Issac Alvarado, right, and Kevin Enriquez board up windows on coastal decor store Bayside Chic, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Galveston, Texas.AP
Workers board up windows at the Galvez Hotel & Spa Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Laura heads toward the Gulf Coast.AP
Owner Nick Gaido, left, helps board up windows at his Gaido's Seafood Restaurant Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Laura heads toward the Gulf Coast.AP
Workers board up windows at the Galvez Hotel & Spa Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Laura heads toward the Gulf Coast.AP
Cody Cloud walks back toward the beach after taking pictures of the waves Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Laura moves toward the Gulf Coast.AP
Helpers distribute water as people board buses to evacuate Lake Charles, La., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, ahead of Hurricane Laura.AP
Municipal workers fill sandbags for the elderly and those with disabilities ahead of Hurricane Laura in Crowley, La., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020.AP
Lake Charles Fire Department personnel assist Tim Williams into a transport van with as he evacuates in Lake Charles, La., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020.AP
Alaira Brown, right, takes her niece Delilah Francis, 6 months, from Ledonna Brown, as they wait to board buses to evacuate Lake Charles, La., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020.AP
Jada Lawson, wipes the face fo her daughter Skyler Lawson, 4, as they wait to board buses to evacuate Lake Charles, La., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, ahead of Hurricane Laura.AP
A Cameron Parish Sheriff's deputy mans a roadblock in the rain on LA 27 as residents evacuate Cameron in Lake Charles, La., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020.AP
Christopher Thomas holds Taiyren Sylvester, 1, as they wait to board buses to evacuate Lake Charles, La., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, ahead of Hurricane Laura.AP
Municipal workers fill sandbags for residents in advance of Hurricane Laura in Abbeville, La., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020.AP
Victoria Nelson with her children Autum Nelson, 2, Shawn Nelson, 7, and Asia Nelson, 6, line up to board a bus to evacuate Lake Charles, La., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020.AP
Victoria Nelson with her children Autum Nelson, 2, Shawn Nelson, 7, and Asia Nelson, 6, wait to board a bus evacuating Lake Charles, La., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020.AP


Laura is expected to eventually weaken to a post-tropical depression and work its way through the Ohio River Valley. It could eventually race east across Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina, dumping heavy rain along its way.

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