(The Center Square) – Hurricane Isaias continued strengthening Thursday as Louisiana officials announced a coastal wildlife refuge closure ahead of the storm’s expected arrival along the northern Gulf Coast on Friday night.
In its 10 a.m. Thursday update, the National Weather Service in New Orleans said Isaias was still expected to become a strong Category 2 hurricane before reaching the coast. (Isaias is pronounced “ee-sah-EE-ahs” with stress on third syllable.)
Watches remained in effect for far eastern portions of southeastern Louisiana and coastal Mississippi. Potential impacts include damaging winds, storm surge, coastal flooding and flooding rain, with the threat concentrated in eastern portions of the weather service office’s forecast area.
Forecasters cautioned that changes in the storm’s track could alter the extent of those impacts.
“Complete preparations in warning areas today,” the weather service said.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced that Elmer’s Island Wildlife Refuge would close at noon Thursday because of anticipated storm impacts in the Grand Isle area.
The refuge will remain closed until further notice. The department described the closure as a precautionary and preparedness measure.