Hurricane Laura downgraded to Category 1 storm, bringing strong winds to northern Louisiana, southern Arkansas

ORLANDO, Fla. — Hurricane Laura made landfall early Thursday morning as a Category 4 storm near Cameron, Louisiana.

3:15 p.m. update

Hurricane Laura is continuing to weaken, now with maximum sustained winds down to 65 mph and moving north at 15 mph. Laura continues to bring strong winds across northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas. The system will continue to lose its punch and is expected to be a tropical depression by Friday morning.

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Hurricane Laura A tattered American flag blows in the wind in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Port Arthur, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) (Eric Gay/AP)

11 a.m. update

Laura has been downgraded to a Category 1 storm. It continues to weaken rapidly and is forecast to become a tropical storm within the next few hours.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds are 75 mph.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said the state’s first reported fatality from Hurricane Laura is a 14-year-old girl who died when a tree fell on her home in Leesville, Louisiana.

Read: Louisiana girl, 14, killed by tree is 1st reported US death from Hurricane Laura

Through Friday, Laura is expected to produce additional rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches across portions of Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas, with isolated storm totals of 18 inches over Louisiana.

This rainfall will continue to cause widespread flash and urban flooding, small streams and creeks to overflow their banks, and minor to moderate freshwater river flooding.

The National Hurricane Center said high water levels persist along portions of the Gulf Coast.

8 a.m. update

Hurricane Laura continues to weaken rapidly as damaging winds and flooding rainfall spread inland over western and central Louisiana.

The National Hurricane Center said life-threatening storm surge continues along much of the Louisiana coastline.

Weather officials said maximum sustained winds are at 100 mph. Forecasters expect Laura to continue weakening throughout the day. It is expected to become a tropical storm later Thursday.

6:30 a.m. update

Hurricane Laura was downgraded to a Category 2 storm, with 110 mph maximum sustained winds.

The National Hurricane Center said hurricane conditions are spreading farther inland across southwestern Louisiana.

Weather officials said “catastrophic” storm surge, hurricane force winds and flash flooding will continue Thursday morning.

5 a.m. update

Hurricane Laura was downgraded to a Category 3 storm, with 120 mph maximum sustained winds. Forecasters expect Laura to rapidly weaken and become a tropical storm later Thursday.

The National Hurricane Center said “catastrophic storm surge, extreme winds and flash flooding continue in portions of Louisiana.”

Laura is moving toward the north at 15 mph. The National Hurricane Center said it should continue moving north throughout the day. A northeastward to east northeastward motion is expected Thursday night and Friday.

Laura will move across southwestern Louisiana Thursday morning and continue northward across the state throughout the afternoon.

The center of Laura is forecast to move over Arkansas tonight, the mid-Mississippi Valley on Friday and the mid-Atlantic states on Saturday.

Read: Storm Surge: What you need to know

4:15 a.m. update

Hurricane Laura struck land around 2 a.m. Thursday near Cameron, Louisiana packing 150 mph winds, Channel 9 meteorologist Brian Shields said. Laura continues to produce dangerous and destructive winds throughout much of Louisiana.

Read: Let us explain: What is the ‘dirty side’ of a tropical system

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