Tropical Storm Karen

A tropical storm warning was issued Thursday, October 3, for southeastern Louisiana due to possible effects from the newly formed Tropical Storm Karen.

Currently the storm is located 400 miles south of the Mississippi River. It has reached maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour with some strengthening over the next few days. Tropical Storm Karen is expected to reach hurricane status either late Friday evening, October 4, or early Saturday.

Karen is moving north northwest at 12 miles per hour, but is expected to turn due north and decrease in speed over the next 2 days.

The tropical storm warning is in effect from Grand Isle Louisiana to the Pearl River. Tropical storm conditions can be expected in this area over the next few days, beginning as early as Friday night.

A previously placed hurricane watch for the areas between Destin and Indian Pass, Florida has now been changed to a tropical storm watch. All the areas that currently have a tropical storm watch in effect, aside from Destin to Indian Pass, include west of Grand Isle to east of Morgan City, Louisiana, metropolitan New Orleans, the area of Lake Maurepas and Pontchartrain. Tropical storm conditions may be expected in this area over the next 2 days.

A hurricane watch is in effect for the areas between Grand Isle, Louisiana to west of Destin, Florida. This watch has been issued at least 48 hours before the first happening of tropical storm force winds are expected. Hurricane conditions may reach this area as early as Saturday, and tropical storm conditions as early as Friday evening.

Karen is predicted to fall near the coast on Saturday, October 5, near the hurricane watch area.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward from the center of the storm up to 140 miles, with higher emphasis to the north and east of the center.

Karen is predicted to produce 4-8 inches of rain in the central and eastern Gulf coast through Sunday, October 6. Most of this rain is expected to fall directly around the center and to the right of the center. Isolated areas can possibly count 12 inches of rain. Elsewhere, Karen may cause 1-2 inches over areas of western Cuba and the northern Yucatan Peninsula.

Stay tuned for the latest on Tropical Storm Karen, and the possible occurrence of a hurricane in the southern United States.