(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) WASHINGTON, Oct 6 (KUNA) -- Several states along the US Gulf Coast declared states of emergency on Friday ahead of Tropical Storm Nate, which left 22 people dead in along the coast of Central America.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Friday that Nate, which has maximum sustained winds at 50 miles per hour with higher gusts, is expected to strengthen over the next couple of days.
The strom is also expected to reach hurricane strength by the time it reaches the Gulf of Mexico.
Nate is moving north-northwest across the Caribbean Sea today and will pass over the Yucatan peninsula and into the Gulf of Mexico this evening.
Forecasters say it could approach the US by Saturday and move near or over the northern Gulf coast by Sunday.
The NHC issued a hurricane warning for Louisiana's Grand Isle barrier island to the Alabama/Florida border.
A Storm Surge warning is in effect for Morgan City, Louisiana to the Alabama Florida border and the northern and western shores of Lake Pontchartrain, an estuary situated next to New Orleans.
Forecasters warn that a storm surge could cause water to rise four to seven feet in some areas along the coast.
The Governors of Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida have declared a state of emergency and are preparing state officials to mobilize ahead of the storm.
The Gulf coast and Caribbean is still recovering from several major hurricanes; Hurricane Harvey, which tore through Texas in August, and Hurricane Irma, which hit Florida in September.
Another powerful storm, Hurricane Maria, ripped through the Caribbean in late September, wreaking destruction on several islands, including Puerto Rico where many residents are still in the dark after the storm took out the island's power grid.
While cruising up the coast of Central America, Tropical Storm Nate triggered severe mudslides and flooding that left at least 22 people dead in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras. (end) hy.ma
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