Hurricane Nate To Make U.S. Landfall As Category 2 Storm

Pirates Of The High Seas Festival Canceled In Panama City Beach

Now a Category 2 storm, Hurricane Nate arrives at the U.S. Golf Coast with heavy winds and rain this weekend.

As a result, several events have been canceled, including Panama City Beach’s Pirates Of The High Seas festival.

“Landfall is expected over far southeastern Louisiana or southern Mississippi late Saturday evening or Saturday night,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Rob Miller said.

Nate is expected to strengthen to a Category 2 hurricane just before reaching land due to these favorable conditions. However, Nate is moving forward at more than 20 mph. This forward speed will limit the storm’s time over water before it reaches land, thus reducing the time it has to strengthen.

According to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, it is estimated that approximately 71.1 percent of the current oil production and 53.2 percent of the natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico has been shut down. Gasoline and natural gas prices may rise as a result of Nate.

Prices already went up after Hurricane Harvey swept through the Gulf and Texas earlier this year.

In addition to storm surge, heavy rain will also lead to flooding issues for the central Gulf Coast and Deep South.

“Rainfall totals of 4-8 inches will occur near and to the east of the center of Nate with localized amounts near or over 12 inches,” Miller said.

The greatest coastal impacts will focus from part of the central Gulf coast to the upper west coast of the Florida Peninsula.

Small craft throughout the Gulf of Mexico should remain in port this weekend. Bathers should avoid venturing beyond knee-deep water as the number and strength of rip currents will increase substantially, even as far west as Texas.

With Nate moving very quickly, wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph will extend far inland across Alabama and into Tennessee near the center of the system. The threat for sporadic power outages will exist across these areas.

Isolated tornadoes can also occur well east of the center of Nate on Sunday and Monday. Outer rain bands from tropical systems can quickly spin up tornadoes so folks will want to be on alert.