Tropical Storm — Iberville, Louisiana

2020-10-09 · Iberville, Louisiana

Event narrative

Delta produced widespread sustained tropical storm force winds resulting in minor to moderate impacts across the parish mainly due to downed trees and power lines. Peak wind gusts across most of the parish are estimated in the 60 to 70 mph range, but higher gusts may have occurred across the far western portion of the parish closest to Delta's center. At the peak, approximately 40 percent of the parish was without power. A few structures also suffered minor roof and siding damage.

Wider weather episode

Delta first developed into a tropical depression in the Caribbean just south of Jamaica on the afternoon of October 4th. As it tracked across the western Caribbean, it rapidly intensified into a Category 4 hurricane. In fact, intensifying from tropical depression to Category strength in 40 hours is the fastest rate of intensification of any storm on record in the Atlantic Basin. Delta quickly weakened to a category 1 hurricane after making its first landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula. It gradually recurved north towards the Louisiana coastline, fluctuating in intensity between Category 2 and 3. Hurricane Delta ultimately arrived with an intensity of 105 mph, a strong category 2 storm. Local impacts include 50 to 70 MPH wind gusts across the area, storm surge of 2 to 3 feet above ground and widespread tree and structural damage. There were 6 injuries. In addition, outer bands of Delta produced a significant amount of rainfall on the north side of Baton Rouge Metro. Upwards of 5 to 10 inches of rain fell, causing street flooding in Baton Rouge and moderate river flooding in the region. Delta caused approximately $100 million worth of damage across southeast Louisiana.

It made landfall around 5 pm east of Cameron LA or about 15 miles east of where Category 4 Hurricane Laura made landfall just a couple of months earlier this year. Delta became the 4th named storm to make landfall in Louisiana this hurricane season.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 924997. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.