The first Gulf Coast watches have been issued ahead of Hurricane Delta. And while we're not in the cone, we are under a Storm Surge Watch:
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* High Island, Texas, to the Alabama/Florida border including
Calcasieu Lake, Vermilion Bay, Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas,
Lake Borgne and Mobile Bay
Here are the Hurricane and Tropical Storm watches:
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* High Island Texas to Grand Isle Louisiana
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* San Luis Pass to west of High Island Texas
* East of Grand Isle Louisiana to Bay St. Louis Mississippi, including New Orleans
* Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas
If you're not familiar with these terms, here's what they mean (courtesy of the National Hurricane Center):
A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-
threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the
coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather
Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at
hurricanes.gov.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours
before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force
winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or
dangerous.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
(Photo: National Hurricane Center)