Hurricane Zeta, a Category 2 storm, made landfall near Cocodrie, Louisiana, on Wednesday afternoon, lashing the coast with 110 mph winds, according to the National Hurricane Center. Forecasters said the hurricane will likely bring life-threatening storm surge and strong winds along the Gulf Coast as it quickly approaches Mississippi. Power was knocked out for tens of thousands of people across Louisiana.
Zeta — the fifth named storm to slam the region this year — was located about 65 miles south-southwest of New Orleans, and was moving north-northeast at 25 mph, the hurricane center said. Zeta’s center is forecast to move from southeastern Louisiana into southeastern Mississippi around 9 p.m. ET, and then move across the southeastern and eastern U.S. later in the evening into Thursday.
Forecasters warned residents to stay indoors: “Don’t venture outside when the calm eye of the hurricane passes over, as dangerous winds will return very quickly when the eye moves away.” The hurricane center added: “Stronger winds, especially in gusts, are likely on high rise buildings.”