Avian Flu Diary: NHC: Cristobal Begins Its Trek North Towards Gulf Coast

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Although currently downgraded to a tropical depression, Cristobal is expected to strengthen back to a tropical storm by tomorrow morning as it heads north towards the upper Gulf Coast. Forecasts suggest a strong tropical storm by landfall - which is expected on Sunday night - probably in Louisiana or Alabama.

Cristobal's winds are currently forecast to remain below hurricane strength, but this storm could still cause significant coastal flooding, along with inland flooding from heavy rainfall.

While forecast tracks have gotten much better over the years, intensity forecasting continues to be less precise, and so interests along the northern gulf coastline should monitor the progress of this storm closely.

Key Messages this morning from the National Hurricane Center:

Your primary source of forecast information should always be the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. These are the real experts, and the only ones you should rely on to track and forecast the storm.

If you are on Twitter, you should also follow @FEMA, @NHC_Atlantic, @NHC_Pacific and @ReadyGov and of course take direction from your local Emergency Management Office.

New Orleans could end up on the `wet' (east) side of the storm, and so residents should closely monitor local flood advisories.

As we discussed a few weeks ago, in Why Preparing For This Year's Hurricane Season Will Be `Different', our concurrent COVID-19 pandemic will complicate nearly every aspect of hurricane season, including evacuations, staying in shelters, and the time it will take to restore utilities and provide disaster relief after the storm.

To help you get prepared for what is expected to be a busy Atlantic Hurricane season, below is a list of this year's Hurricane Preparedness Week blogs: