The National Hurricane Center is leaning towards a Hurricane Nate landfall around Biloxi Mississippi as a category two hurricane with top sustained winds of 105 miles per hour and gusts to 125mph. As of 10:00am top sustained winds were 90mph.

The eye is now forecast to miss Louisiana and hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast between midnight or 1am.

Alek Krautmann with the National Weather Service in Slidell says, because Nate is moving so quickly at a whopping 26 miles per hour, it’s not going to stick around here long…:
CUT 24 (06) “moving out around 3am”

Governor John Bel Edwards’ pre-disaster emergency declaration request for 17 parishes in Louisiana was approved by President Donald Trump. The declaration will allow the state to more easily access federal response funds in the event they are needed.

Some are concerned about the fragile pump system in New Orleans. But Governor John Bel Edwards says the Sewerage and Waterboard is in a much better position now than they have been in many months…:
CUT 23 (09) “operational”
Edwards adds that the forecast for rain in New Orleans associated with Nate is less than what the city often sees during an afternoon thunderstorm.

Today is the last day to early vote in the October 14th election. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says so far it’s been very slow and he hopes the candidates will stir up more interest before next Saturday..:
Cut 10 (11) “October 14th”
Early voting closes at 6pm.

As of the 10am update, Hurricane Nate is now packing winds up to 90 miles per hour and is expected to be a Category 2 storm at landfall. The system is now speeding near 26 miles per hour north-northwest and that’s expected to continue through this evening. The National Hurricane Center still expects a turn toward the north tonight, and then northeast before moving across the northern Gulf of Mexico and making landfall along the central Gulf Coast around midnight.

Alek Krautmann with the National Weather Service in Slidell says southeast Louisiana could be looking at power outages from the tropical storm force winds…:
CUT 30 (10) “storm surge inundation”

Governor John Bel Edwards will meet with the Unified Command Group to receive updates on Hurricane Nate at GOHSEP, then will hold a news conference to discuss the latest information on the storm around noon.

The early voting period for the October 14th election concludes today at 6pm and the Secretary of State’s office says the turnout for the first five days was not great. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

LSU is set to take on 20th ranked Florida in the Swamp in Gainesville this afternoon at 2:30pm, and two Tiger standouts on both sides of the ball, running back Derrius Guice and defensive end Rashard Lawrence, are expected to return to the field. The program says The Bayou Bengals head into this game coming off a good week of practice.

Hurricane Nate is moving quickly across the Gulf of Mexico as a Category One storm. Alek Krautmann is with the National Weather Service in Slidell:
CUT 27 (06) “Mississippi Gulf Coast”
He says this general fast motion of 22 miles per hour is expected to continue throughout the night, and while the track is becoming more and more certain…:
CUT 28 (07) “the most uncertainty”
The biggest concern with Nate is the storm surge. 6-9 feet is possible from the Mississippi River to the Alabama/Florida border; and 4-7 feet from Morgan City to the Mississippi River. Lake Pontchartrain could see levels of 3-7 feet on either side.

Krautmann says tropical Storm force winds are expected to move across the coast by noon, and New Orleans this afternoon. This could lead to downed trees and power lines and widespread power outages.

Governor John Bel Edwards says, because Hurricane Nate is moving so fast, the major impacts are not expected to be from the rain…:
CUT 29 (08) “of problems”
The Governor’s next update will be held today at noon.

Early voting is taking place today for the October 14th Election which includes a special election for state treasurer, a south Louisiana Public Service Commission seat, three constitutional amendments and the general New Orleans mayoral race. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says turnout has been dismal so far…:
Cut 11 (10) “have that”
Early voting ends today at 6.

Once again our top story on Hurricane Nate expected to make landfall around the Mississippi Gulf Coast around midnight.

Alek Krautmann with the National Weather Service in Slidell says Hurricane Nate is traveling fast, north, at 22 miles per hour — and is expected to pass just east of the mouth of the Mississippi River before making a possible landfall around the Mississippi coast near midnight. He says areas along the Gulf coast in south Louisiana and west of the Mississippi River can expect storm surge inundation of three to six feet…:
CUT 26 (11) “three to five feet”
A storm surge warning is in effect for those areas. He says residents in southeast Louisiana should prepare for possible power outages, as the tropical weather moves through, this afternoon, this evening and overnight. Krautmann says the storm should be moving out around 3am.

More on Hurricane Nate >> An Emergency Declaration request for 17 Louisiana Parishes was approved by President Donald Trump. The declaration allows the state to more easily access federal response resources in the event that they become necessary. Governor John Bel Edwards wants residents to keep in mind that this is going to be a night time event…:
CUT 25 (10) “at the same time”

Officials in St. Tammany Parish are ready. Parish President Pat Brister says their main concern is flooded roadways…:
Cut 13 (09) “the time”

Governor Edwards will hold another news conference around noon with the latest information on Hurricane Nate.

Hurricane Nate is moving rapidly over the central Gulf of Mexico this morning, and a Hurricane Warning is in effect for Grand Isle to the Alabama/Florida border, including metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. The National Hurricane Center says they eye of Hurricane Nate is expected to make landfall near Biloxi around 1am Sunday morning.

Some are concerned about the fragile pump system in New Orleans. But Governor John Bel Edwards says the Sewerage and Waterboard is in a much better position now than they have been in many months…:
CUT 25 (09) “operational”
Edwards adds that the forecast for rain in New Orleans associated with Nate is less than what the city often sees during an afternoon thunderstorm. Forecasters say with Nate moving so fast, any impacts will be over by midday on Sunday.

While the cone of error for Hurricane Nate still includes Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parish, the forecast track for the eye keeps it offshore with Louisiana avoiding a direct hit. Even if that holds, the state can still expect dangerous storm surge. Plaquemines Parish officials are preparing. Sheriff Jerry Turlich reminds residents to take precautions…:
Cut 15 (10) “protection”

Early voting for the October 14th election concludes today, and Secretary of State Tom Schedler says, so far, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of interest in this race…:
Cut 9 (11) “voting turnout”
Early voting ends today at 6pm.

A state of emergency has been declared for Louisiana as Tropical Storm Nate races toward the Gulf Coast. Last summer, pumps failed to work when heavy rain fell in New Orleans. Governor John Bel Edwards has the National Guard ready to move if needed if they fail again this weekend:
cut 3 (11) “not running”
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has ordered a citywide curfew starting tomorrow night at 6 PM.

The latest forecast track has the New Orleans area in the cone of uncertainity with a potential landfall around midnight on Saturday. St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister says their main concern is flooded roadways….
cut 13 (09) “….the time”
The eye of Tropical Storm Nate could cross over the mouth of the Mississippi River as a Category 1 hurricane.

Early voting ends tomorrow for the October 14th election and Secretary of State Tom Schedler says voter turnout has been dismal. Schedler blames the lack of items on some ballots around the state…
cut 11 (10) “…have that”
Early voting will end this Saturday at 6pm. The general election will be held October 14th from 7 AM to 8 PM.

It sounds like LSU star running back Derrius Guice will play tomorrow against the Gators, but will not see a lot of playing time. Head Coach Ed Orgeron says Guice will be limited after missing last week’s loss to Troy due to a possible knee injury. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran….
cut 28 (15) “…the better”
Kick-off is at 2:30.