Laura is now the fourth hurricane of the season

As of 7:15 a.m. Tuesday, Tropical Storm Laura became the fourth hurricane of this year’s hurricane season as she entered the warmer water of the Gulf of Mexico.

Laura, whose sustained winds have been clocked at 75 mph, is expected to increase in intensity and hit the Gulf Coast between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning as a major hurricane with the potential of winds greater than 110 mph.

The National Hurricane Center is predicting a risk of life-threatening storm surge from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Pass Christian, Mississippi, within the next 48 hours.

Hurricane conditions are expected late Wednesday into Thursday from Morgan City, Louisiana, west to San Luis Pass, Texas.

Although the main thrust of Hurricane Laura is expected to hit well to the west of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the NHC warns that there is still uncertainty in the forecast, and that storm surge, wind and rainfall hazards will extend well beyond Laura’s center.