Many people in our area were roused from their sleep at 4:30 Wednesday morning with a “Hurricane Warning” alert on their phones.  The message said the warning was in effect for our area.

Here is the most recent post from the National Weather Service:

Laura to Become a Major Hurricane; Warnings Posted Along the Northern Gulf Coast

Hurricane Laura continues to rapidly strengthen and is now forecast to reach Category 4 by this afternoon over the northwest Gulf of Mexico. Laura is expected to produce a life-threatening storm surge, extreme winds, and flash flooding over eastern Texas and Louisiana later today. Hurricane, Storm Surge and Tropical Storm warnings are in effect over far east Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas.

Tropical Storm and Hurricane warnings are now in effect for portions of the Four-States region. Hurricane force winds are likely in the hurricane warning, and hurricane force gusts are possible in the Tropical Storm warning. Heavy rain is also likely, with flash flooding possible.

There is a flash flood watch for all of northwest Louisiana through 7:00 pm on Friday.  Use caution if you have to be on the roads.

The Journal will update the forecast and latest weather conditions as Hurricane Laura makes its way into Louisiana.