Tropical Storm Gordon gained strength as it moved steadily toward the US Gulf Coast today, on track to make landfall just east of New Orleans with hurricane force winds.

Authorities declared a state of emergency in the “Big Easy” — devastated in 2005 by mega Hurricane Katrina — and encouraged people living outside its levee system to evacuate voluntarily.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said Gordon, which formed near the upper Florida Keys yesterday, was 190 miles southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River.

According to AFP News agency, a hurricane warning was in place from the mouth of the Pearl River, on the Louisiana-Mississippi state line, to the Alabama-Florida border to the east.

Up to eight inches of rain could fall across the Gulf states.

Taiwan National Day Celebration

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here