Coastal Residents Relieved – Hurricane Season Update for Texas and Louisiana

(KMDL-FM) Today is the last day of July. That means tomorrow, when we flip the calendar over one more page, it will be  August. August is a month that brings high heat and humidity to places like Galveston, South Padre Island, Corpus Christi, Cameron, Lake Charles, and Lafayette.

That month can also bring shivers to the same folks in those same places along the northern and western Gulf Coast of the United States. The reason for the shivers when the heat index is over 100? Hurricane Season.

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Hurricane Season doesn't really get started until August. In fact, we are in the six-week build-up period to what those of us along the coast like to call "Prime Time". The peak of the Hurricane Season is September 12th. If you believe the math, then you know between now and mid-October, you need to check in with us for tropical updates if not every day, then at least every other day.

The good news from the National Hurricane Center today is that all is quiet in the Gulf and the Caribbean. Conditions are expected to remain quiet for at least the next seven days. That's one reason for the sighs of relief coming from the Gulf Coast.

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Federal Government Confirms Good News for Louisiana and Texas Coasts

The other reason is the announcement that the Department of Defense will not be going through with a plan that would have seen a significant cut to hurricane forecasting satellite data. The data was used for both forecasting the weather and in U.S. military operations. However, the program was facing termination because of cybersecurity concerns.

The fact that these systems will remain operational over the Gulf is great news for forecasters. These intelligence gathering devices have been prominent fixtures in forecasting and confirming rapid intensification cycles of tropical systems in the Gulf.

Without these eyes in the sky, forecasters might not be able to accurately predict the intensity of a developing storm. And a missed forecast concerning hurricane intensity could mean a major threat to life and property for those who live and work along the coast.

It is uncertain how long the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program will remain intact, but it does appear as though the forecast tools will be operational through the peak of the tropical season. Let's just hope these satellites won't have anything to look at this year.

What Are the Probabilities of a Hurricane Making Landfall in Texas & Louisiana?

What is the likelihood of a hurricane making landfall where you live? We found some experts who have offered these predictions for both the Louisiana and Texas coastal parishes and counties. Here's what they're saying for where you live. We'll look at Louisiana first, and keep scrolling for the Texas probabilities.