Louisiana

Tropical system could be hurricane by Wednesday, headed toward Louisiana and Texas

Published

2 years ago

September 9, 2024

Tropical system could be hurricane by Wednesday, headed toward Louisiana and Texas

A potential tropical storm forming in the Gulf of Mexico could be a low-end Category 1 hurricane by Wednesday and headed toward a landfall on the Upper Texas or southwestern Louisiana coasts.

After weeks of relative quiet, the National Hurricane Center put the chances of tropical storm formation at 90% within 48 hours in a 10 p.m. CT update Sunday.

A tropical storm watch was issued Sunday for Southern Texas, from Port Mansfield south to the Rio Grande River, which means tropical storm winds are possible along the coast by Tuesday evening. A tropical storm watch also is in effect southward along the Mexican coast to Barra del Tordo.

The center of the system was an estimated 320 miles south southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande and about 550 miles south of Cameron, Louisiana on Sunday night. With sustained winds estimated at 50 mph, the elongated system was barely moving at 5 mph in a north-northwesterly direction.

The hurricane center expects the system to become a tropical storm on Monday, with tropical storm conditions possible within the watch area on the northeastern coast of Mexico and southern tip of Texas.

Unless one of the systems being watched out in the tropical Atlantic forms first, this storm would become the sixth named storm of the 2024 season, and would be named Francine. Hurricane, storm surge and tropical storm watches are expected along the upper Texas and Louisiana coasts on Monday.

The system, labeled Potential Tropical Cyclone Six, is one of three the hurricane center is watching. Another is in the central tropical Atlantic and is given a 60% chance of becoming a tropical storm within 48 hours. A storm farther to the east has a 50 chance of development over the next week.

The center’s forecast calls for the storm to be a low-end Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday with 80 mph winds.The storm is forecast to bring 4 – 8 inches of rainfall to the coast, with amounts up to 12 inches in some locations in northeastern Mexico and along the Texas and Louisiana coasts through Thursday, presenting a flash flood risk, the center stated.

The Gulf of Mexico system is forecast to begin a faster motion to the northeast by late Tuesday as it meets a cold front along the Gulf coast. It would be just offshore along the Texas coast moving toward a potential landfall along the upper Texas or Louisiana coast on Wednesday, said Donald Jones, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service office in Lake Charles, Louisiana in a Sunday night briefing.

Jones urged residents in Southwestern Louisiana to keep an eye on the weather, and said there was at least some chance that storm could even become a Category 2 hurricane. So far, landfall could be on Wednesday evening along the southwestern Louisiana coast, Jones said.

Water temperatures in the Gulf are warmer than normal, and could be conductive to hurricane development, Jones said. Once the system forms a well-defined center, the hurricane center said steady strengthening is possible. The storm would be over the warm Gulf in an area of abundant moisture, the hurricane center stated, but could encounter an increase in wind shear and slightly drier air that could prevent significant strengthening.

“We’re going to be looking at 8 to 12 inches of rainfall south of Interstate 10 in southwestern Louisiana,” Jones said.

Saildrone sails into Hurricane Ernesto’s big waves

The Saildrone Explorer intercepted Hurricane Ernesto on Aug. 15, capturing high seas with the average of the highest third of waves at 26.5 feet.

Provided by Saildrone and NOAA

At the moment, the biggest threat is flooding, Jones said. The track of the tropical storm shifted a little eastward Sunday and could shift even further east, he said.

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Louisiana

$604 Mega Millions jackpot has Louisiana players dreaming big

Published

9 hours ago

July 8, 2026

Press Room

4 Mega Millions jackpot has Louisiana players dreaming big

ST. MARTIN PARISH — As the Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $604 million, excitement is growing in St. Martinville, where a quick stop at a convenience store has many imagining what they would do if they won.

The jackpot, the largest Mega Millions prize offered so far this year, drew plenty of attention at Simmis Mart. Some customers were ready to buy tickets, while others simply enjoyed thinking about the possibilities.

Charlotte Wilson said she has noticed that major lottery jackpots often seem to be won outside Louisiana, but that has not stopped her from hoping.

“When they do hit it’s always out of state. It’s never in Louisiana in a little small town, but if you do hit and I win!” Wilson said.

The excitement extended beyond customers. Store employee Vicky Williams admitted she would not mind seeing some of the jackpot come her way.

“I need to get some of that. I could use some of that money,” Williams said.

Among those purchasing a ticket was Shakina Hart, who said playing the lottery is something she has done before, “I’ve played it in the past, but never won the Mega Millions, so yes, I’m hoping I’m winning on this,” Hart said.

For Wilson, hitting the jackpot would be about more than the money. She already knows exactly how she’d put it to use.

“First of all, I’ll buy me a house and a nice car, and I’ll take care of the homeless people because they have a lot of those that need somewhere to live who are hungry and homeless,” Wilson said.

Hart said her priorities would center on her family, especially her children’s education.

“I have one that wants to be a lawyer and one that wants to be a doctor, so the money would definitely help with their school funding and basic care needs,” Hart said.

The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Friday July 10th. While the odds of winning remain long, the growing jackpot has many people holding onto the same thought: What if their numbers are the ones called?

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Louisiana

Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows Welcomes Inaugural Class – Leaders for a Better Louisiana

Published

20 hours ago

July 8, 2026

Press Room

Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows Welcomes Inaugural Class – Leaders for a Better Louisiana

Nearly 40 years after launching Louisiana’s premier statewide leadership development program, Leaders for a Better Louisiana is proud to announce the inaugural class of Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows, marking an important new chapter in the organization’s longstanding commitment to developing informed, connected leaders equipped to address the state’s most pressing challenges.

Building on the proven model and legacy of Leadership Louisiana, the Health Fellows program brings together leaders from across healthcare, business, public policy, higher education, philanthropy, and community organizations to gain a deeper understanding of the systems, opportunities, and challenges shaping health outcomes across Louisiana. Throughout the year, fellows will participate in immersive sessions across the state, engaging directly with healthcare providers, researchers, policymakers, workforce leaders, and innovators while exploring the issues that influence the health and well-being of Louisiana’s people and communities.

“The strength of Leadership Louisiana has always been its ability to bring together accomplished leaders from different sectors and regions to learn from one another while developing a broader understanding of our state,” said Sheree Blanchard, Director of Leadership Louisiana. “The Health Fellows program extends that tradition by focusing on one of Louisiana’s most significant opportunities for improvement. We are excited to welcome this outstanding inaugural class.”

The inaugural class represents a broad cross-section of Louisiana’s healthcare and civic leadership, with participants serving in hospitals, health systems, higher education, business, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and community-based organizations throughout the state. Together, they bring diverse expertise and perspectives that will strengthen dialogue and collaboration around Louisiana’s health challenges and opportunities.

“From the beginning, our vision was to create a program that mirrors the excellence and impact of Leadership Louisiana while taking a comprehensive look at the many factors that influence health outcomes,” said Blanchard. “This first class reflects the caliber of leadership we hoped to attract, and we look forward to watching these fellows build lasting relationships and develop new ideas that will benefit communities across Louisiana.”

Leadership Louisiana has graduated more than 1,600 leaders over nearly four decades, creating one of the state’s strongest cross-sector leadership networks. Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows builds on that foundation by providing participants with a focused exploration of Louisiana’s healthcare landscape while reinforcing the program’s longstanding commitment to collaboration, informed leadership, and service to the state.

The 2027 Health Fellows class will begin its yearlong experience this summer with sessions held in multiple regions of Louisiana.

View the complete roster of the Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows inaugural class.

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