Storm Surge/Tide — Lower Lafourche, Louisiana

2020-10-28 · Lower Lafourche, Louisiana

Event narrative

Ahead of the storm, parish officials issued a mandatory evacuation order for areas south of the flood gates and

other low lying areas as well as a voluntary evacuation for all areas south of LA HWY 90. Zeta's storm surge flooded LA HWY 1, cutting off access to Port Fourchon. The storm surge also flooded several homes and businesses in Leeville and Golden meadow. The NOS gauge at Port Fourchon (PTFL1) reached its maximum recording capability at 3.03 ft, and peak inundation was likely higher. The Hackberry Bay (HALC1) tide gauge measured a peak of 4.80 ft NAVD88.

Wider weather episode

A tropical depression formed in the northwestern Caribbean on the afternoon of October 24th. 9 hours later, it became the twenty-seventh named storm and eleventh hurricane of the exceptionally active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. After meandering virtually in the same place, it finally began moving northwest and slowly strengthening before making its first landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula on October 26th. Zeta exited the Yucantan Peninsula weaker but still a strong tropical storm. The path of the storm began shifting from northwest to northeast, and heading straight towards Louisiana. In terms of intensity, Zeta slowly but steadily strengthened from this point all the way up until landfall. It reached the highest wind speed possible of a Category 2 storm, 110 mph. Zeta produced extensive wind damage across southeast Louisiana with measured sustained winds up to 87 mph and gusts up to 110 mph. Thousands of power poles were downed and thousands of homes experienced minor damage. Storm surge ranged from a few feet to several feet. There were a total of 1 fatality and 1 injury. Hurricane Zeta caused approximately $1 billion worth of damage.

Zeta was the record-tying sixth hurricane to make landfall in the United States and the record fifth named storm to strike Louisiana in 2020.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 925207. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.