LILI MADE LANDFALL AS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE WESTERN
EDGE OF VERMILLION BAY, THE FIRST HURRICANE TO MAKE LANDFALL IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE IRENE IN 1999

(See NOAA's National Hurricane Center for the latest information on this storm. Complete advisories are posted at 11 a.m., 5 p.m., 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. All times are Eastern. Advisories are posted more frequently as the storm nears the USA mainland.)

October 3, 2002 — At 11 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Lili was estimated near latitude 30.0 north, longitude 92.3 west or about 25 miles west of New Iberia, La. Lili made landfall at 10 a.m. EDT. Lili is moving toward the north near 16 mph, and this motion is expected to continue Thursday bringing the center of the tropical cyclone farther inland, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Lili making landfall taken at 10:15 p.m. EDT on Oct. 3, 2002. Click here for high resolution version of this image, which is a large file. Click here to see latest view. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 90 mph in a very small area to the northeast of the center with higher gusts. Weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 195 miles.

As Lili moves over land, people in the path of the hurricane are cautioned not to venture outside during the relative calm of the eye because winds will increase suddenly from the opposite direction. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Lili after the storm moved inland taken at 3:45 p.m. EDT on Oct. 3, 2002. Click here for high resolution version of this image, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

The latest minimum central pressure reported by a reconnaissance plane was 965 mb, 28.50 inches. The storm surge is probably at a maximum 6 to 10 feet above normal tide levels at this time. The surge could spread as much as 10 to 20 miles inland across low-lying areas near the path of Lili. Surge levels will be decreasing Thursday afternoon.

Rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches are possible in association with Lili. These rains could cause dangerous flooding. Isolated tornadoes are possible over eastern Louisiana and central south Mississippi Thursday.

A hurricane warning remains in effect from east of High Island, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River. A tropical storm warning remains in effect from east of the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Alabama/Florida border, including New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. The coastal warnings will likely be discontinued later Thursday.

Special Statements from NOAA Weather Forecast Offices to be Impacted by Lili.

Lake Charles, La., Local Statement

Houston/Galveston, Texas, Local Statement

New Orleans, La., Local Statement

Mobile, Ala., Local Statement

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by NOAA National Weather Service local forecast offices.

Click NOAA tracking map for larger view.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's National Hurricane Center — Get the latest advisories here

NOAA's Atlantic Hurricanes Database — 150 Years of Atlantic Hurricanes

El Niño Expected to Impact Atlantic Hurricane Season, NOAA Reports

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

NOAA's River Forecast Centers

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Media Contact:
Frank Lepore, NOAA's National Hurricane Center, (305) 229-4404