Hurricane Nate: Tropical Storm death toll hits 22 as it barrels towards southern US states

Nate has caused heavy rains, landslides and floods,
leaving bridges and roads impassable and destroying
houses.
The Tropical Storm, which caused deaths in Costa
Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras, has also left at least 20
people missing and is expected to head north towards
the US.
One of the hardest hit countries is Costa Rica where
400,000 people are currently without power.
Hurricane Nate path
update LIVE:
Tropical storm on
track for USA
Hurricane Nate
path: Will Hurricane
Nate be the next
Katrina?
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Nate will strengthen becoming a Category 1 hurricane
before making smashing into the southern coast of the
US on Sunday, forecasters predict.
Residents in Florida and Texas have been warned to
prepare for the storm to hit.
A state of emergency has been declared across 29
counties in Florida and in New Orleans.
NHC
spokesman Dennis Feltgen said: “The threat of the
impact is increasing, so folks along the northern Gulf
Coast should be paying attention to this thing.”
Countries in Central America have declared a state of
emergency following the terrifying effects of the
storm.
Tropical Storm Nate is on track to strengthen into a
hurricane before making landfall somewhere between
Louisiana and the Florida Panhandle at the weekend.
Hurricane Nate: Latest maps
Thu, October 5, 2017
Bringing you the latest maps and models as
tropical storm Depression 16 is forecast to
strengthen into Tropical Storm Nate over the
Atlantic
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Thursday Oct 05: 11am [National Hurricane Centre]
NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTRE 1 of 12
The NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC) has
warned that the storm is likely to develop into a
hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico after passing
Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula late on Friday.
With Nate’s projected path shifting west overnight, the
NOAA has urged residents between Louisiana and the
Florida Panhandle to keep a close eye on the storm’s
movements.
Its latest advisory said: “The system is forecast to
strengthen over the Gulf of Mexico and could affect
portions of the northern Gulf Coast as a hurricane this
weekend, with direct impacts from wind, storm surge,
and heavy rainfall.
More than 400,000 are without power in Costa Rica
after the storm hit
“However, it is too early to specify the timing, location,
or magnitude of these impacts.
“Residents along the Gulf Coast from Louisiana
through the Florida Panhandle should monitor the
progress of this system and heed any advice given by
local officials.”
There are fears that the storms predicted path will
lead it to hit New Orleans at around 2am on Sunday.
The Hurricane is forecast to hit New Orleans at around
2am on Sunday
Meteorologist Brittney Bryant tweeted: “Tropical Storm
Nate is expected to make landfall just east of New
Orleans on Sunday morning as a Cat 1 hurricane.”
Another meteorologist, Eric Holthaus, warned Nate
could undergo “rapid strengthening” before hitting the
city.
He tweeted: “Nate is expected to make landfall near
New Orleans as a hurricane on Sunday. Conditions ripe
for rapid strengthening, so watch it closely.”

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