Gordon Forecast to Hit US on Tuesday Night

Tropical Storm Gordon, which will likely become a hurricane before hitting the northern U.S. Gulf Coast, will strike on the night of Sept. 4, bringing high winds, heavy rains, and dangerous storm surge.

Gordon’s eye was heading to around Gulfport, Mississippi, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) in a 10 a.m. update. It’s about 145 miles east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River and has maximum sustained winds of 65 mph.

The NHC said that the storm will intensify to become at least a Category 1 hurricane when it hits land.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the Pearl River to the Alabama-Florida border, a tropical storm warning is in effect for west of the mouth of the Pearl River to Grand Isle, including Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas. Also, a tropical storm warning is in effect for the Alabama-Florida border to Okaloosa-Walton County line, according to the NHC.

A storm surge warning is in effect for Shell Beach to Dauphin Island, the agency added.

“The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the east of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large waves,” NHC meteorologist Richard Pasch told NPR.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey all declared states of emergencies ahead of the storm’s landfall.

“I have declared a state of emergency in advance of Tropical Storm #Gordon, making state resources and personnel available to affected areas,” Mississippi Gov. Bryant said on Twitter. “Please stay weather-aware.”

“All coastal Alabama residents need to prepare now ahead of tonight’s potential landfall,” Gov. Ivey tweeted. “Our state will be ready for whatever Gordon may bring.”

The storm could be weakened by another storm in the area, say weather forecasters.

“Fast movement and wind shear should limit the intensity of Gordon, but the storm will be monitored closely as the water is quite warm,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski on its website. “There is a non-tropical storm west of Gordon that is causing some of the wind shear,” Sosnowski said.

Tropical Storm Gordon, which will likely become a hurricane before hitting the northern U.S. Gulf Coast, will strike on the night of Sept. 4. (National Hurricane Center)

Wind shear is a change in the wind direction or speed, which can prevent tropical systems from developing or strengthening.

“So it is quite possible that if that non-tropical storm weakens and wind shear diminishes, Gordon could ramp up to a hurricane Tuesday afternoon and early evening, just prior to landfall,” Sosnowski added.

A storm surge warning has been issued for the area stretching from Shell Beach, Louisiana, to Dauphin Island, Alabama. The warning means there is danger of life-threatening inundation. The region could see rising waters of 3 to 5 feet.

“The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the east of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large waves,” Pasch said.

Grand Isle Mayor David Camardelle called for a voluntary evacuation of the barrier island. The mayor noted the ongoing construction on Highway 1, the lone road that connects Grand Isle to the rest of the state, and said it could cause “severe problems” for people evacuating.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.