Please note the following issued from Houston Pilots this afternoon:
“Our Executive Committee would like to give you all a heads up that there is a strong possibility we will stop accepting arrivals around 2000 tonight. Furthermore we will likely start emptying the port at first light tomorrow. We are in close contact with VTS and the Captain of the Port and will continue to update you with our intentions as they change.”
Hurricane Delta made landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula this morning. The storm has moved back over the warm Gulf waters this afternoon as a category 2 with winds around 100 mph (160.9 kmh). Delta is forecasted to regain strength over the open water and reach category 4 status again, however is expected to slow down to a category 3 right before landfall Friday.
The current models track towards Louisiana, which is still recovering from hurricane Laura. Over 6,000 people are still in hotels around the state due to damaged homes.
Peak storm surge is expected to reach around 11 feet (3.35 meters). Tropical storm force winds are expected to reach the Texas/Louisiana coast around Thursday evening.
Port Conditions
Houston, Galveston
Port Condition X-Ray 7th October as of 10:00
Port Condition Yankee us expected 24 hrs ahead of tropical storm force winds. MSIB attached.
Mobile, Pensacola, Pacagoula, Gulfport
Port Condition X-Ray as of 10:00 7th October. (MSIB attached)
Panama City
Port Condition Whiskey
New Orleans, Baton Rouge
At 0800 local time, October 6, 2020, in preparation for the approaching Hurricane DELTA, the Captain of the Port (COTP), Sector New Orleans set Port Condition WHISKEY in accordance with the Maritime Hurricane Contingency Port Plan (MHCPP). LAMA report attached. Port Condition X-Ray expected today. It is been advised Nonessential personnel should evacuate the port.
Port Arthur, Beaumont & Lake Charles
Port Condition X-Ray (attached MSIB)
Latest NHC Update:
Hurricane Delta Intermediate Advisory Number 12A
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL262020
100 PM CDT Wed Oct 07 2020
...AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INVESTIGATING DELTA OVER THE SOUTHERN GULF OF MEXICO...
SUMMARY OF 100 PM CDT...1800 UTC...INFORMATION
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LOCATION...21.8N 88.8W
ABOUT 115 MI...185 KM W OF CABO CATOCHE MEXICO
ABOUT 65 MI...110 KM ENE OF PROGRESO MEXICO
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...100 MPH...155 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 305 DEGREES AT 17 MPH...28 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...975 MB...28.80 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
The government of Mexico has discontinued the Tropical Storm Warning along the east coast of the Yucatan peninsula from Punta Herrero to Tulum.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* High Island, Texas, to the Alabama/Florida border including Calcasieu Lake, Vermilion Bay, Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, Lake Borgne and Mobile Bay
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Tulum to Dzilam Mexico
* Cozumel
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* High Island Texas to Grand Isle Louisiana
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Dzilam to Progreso Mexico
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* San Luis Pass to west of High Island Texas
* East of Grand Isle Louisiana to Bay St. Louis Mississippi, including New Orleans
* Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas
CHANGES IN WATCHES AND WARNINGS WITH THIS ADVISORY...
A STORM SURGE WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE NORTHERN GULF COAST FROM HIGH ISLAND TEXAS TO THE ALABAMA/FLORIDA BORDER INCLUDING CALCASIEU LAKE...VERMILION BAY...LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN...LAKE MAUREPAS...LAKE BORGNE AND MOBILE BAY.
A HURRICANE WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE NORTHERN GULF COAST FROM HIGH ISLAND TEXAS EASTWARD TO GRAND ISLE LOUISIANA.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED ALONG THE TEXAS COAST FROM WEST OF HIGH ISLAND TO SAN LUIS PASS. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED ALONG THE NORTHERN GULF COAST FROM EAST OF GRAND ISLE, LOUISIANA TO BAY ST. LOUIS MISSISSIPPI...INCLUDING THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS...LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND LAKE MAUREPAS.
THE GOVERNMENT OF CUBA HAS DISCONTINUED ALL WARNINGS FOR CUBA.
STIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE 975 MB
MAX SUSTAINED WINDS 90 KT WITH GUSTS TO 110 KT.
64 KT....... 25NE 25SE 10SW 20NW.
50 KT....... 40NE 40SE 30SW 30NW.
34 KT.......110NE 100SE 80SW 90NW.
12 FT SEAS..180NE 120SE 0SW 0NW.
WINDS AND SEAS VARY GREATLY IN EACH QUADRANT. RADII IN NAUTICAL
MILES ARE THE LARGEST RADII EXPECTED ANYWHERE IN THAT QUADRANT.
REPEAT...CENTER LOCATED NEAR 21.4N 88.0W AT 07/1500Z
AT 07/1200Z CENTER WAS LOCATED NEAR 21.1N 87.4W
Other Informative Links
Surface Plot: HERE
Upper Steering Map : HERE
Peak Storm Surge: HERE
Surface Analysis: HERE
Wind/Wave Analysis: HERE