Hurricane Delta Strengthens, Heading for Mexico, U.S. Coast

(Bloomberg) -- Hurricane Delta continued to strengthen as it hurtled toward the Gulf of Mexico, where it's poised to clip the Yucatan Peninsula before becoming the record 10th storm to hit the U.S. this season.

Delta intensified to become a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour and “extremely dangerous conditions” expected for the northeast Yucatan peninsula starting early Wednesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in an update at 4:55 a.m. New York time.

The storm became hurricane strength Monday night local time, and it could reach tree-snapping Category 3 power on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale as it hits Mexico, said Ryan Truchelut, president of Weather Tiger LLC.

Delta's forecast track places the Yucatan, struck just days ago by Tropical Storm Gamma, directly in its path. The storm will then drift across the southern Gulf, likely weakening before it strikes between Louisiana and the Florida panhandle Friday.

“Everyone in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the western Florida panhandle should be prepared for a hurricane landfall,” Truchelut said. “It is pretty likely we are going to be seeing some significant impacts along the central Gulf coast.”

Delta would be the fourth hurricane to strike the Gulf in 2020, and the 10th storm to hit the U.S. It's also this year's 25th named system, only the second time that mark has been reached in records going back to 1851. And it's the earliest point at which that many storms have been recorded. An all-time high of 28 storms formed in 2005, including deadly Hurricane Katrina, which inundated New Orleans.

On its current path, the storm will likely cause oil and natural gas production offshore Louisiana to shut down, and it poses a threat to onshore refineries and shipping, said Jim Rouiller, lead meteorologist with the Energy Weather Group. Output from the Gulf has been disrupted several times this year from tropical storms and hurricanes moving through the region.

“Expect widespread shut-ins of rigs and platforms across the upper Gulf Coast over next two days,” Rouiller said. “Significant impact and disruption to the U.S. energy production area of the upper Gulf is likely as the week wears on.”

The hurricane center calls for Delta's winds to peak at 120 mph then weaken to 100 mph before it strikes the U.S. coast. A lot will depend on how much power it loses crossing the Yucatan and whether wind shear tears at its structure and cooler water robs it of fuel. Hurricanes depend on warm ocean water to build strength.

Delta was southwest of Jamaica and churning west-northwest at 7 mph. Hurricane warnings have been issued for western Cuba and Mexico's coastline. A tropical storm warning has also been issued for the Cayman Islands. Gamma, which weakened to a tropical depression, will fall apart over night.

Delta's earlier forecast tracks depended on interaction with Gamma, Truchelut said. With the loss of the smaller storm, Delta's path could still change in coming days.

The National Hurricane Center has used up all the names on its official list and has begun designating systems with Greek letters.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.