Nate on target to batter Gulf Coast this weekend

Name: WORLD
Price range: $

Residents along the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle could have a wet and windy weekend thanks to Nate, a tropical storm expected to spin into the Gulf of Mexico by Saturday. Forecasters have issued storm warnings for parts of Nicaragua and Honduras, where Nate has dumped heavy rain. The storm could reach hurricane strength by the time it hits the U.S. mainland, although it’s not expected to be nearly as strong as this season’s previous storms, Harvey and Irma. Nate likely will rake over Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula late Friday, battering one of the last popular Caribbean tourist destinations not affected by storms so far this year. If Nate makes U.S. landfall as predicted, between Mississippi and Alabama, every Gulf Coast state will have suffered some level of storm damage this year. Thanks to the Gulf’s warm waters, Nate could strengthen quickly over the weekend, forecasters warn.

Leigh Jones

Leigh is features editor for WORLD. She is a World Journalism Institute graduate who spent six years as a newspaper reporter in Texas before joining WORLD News Group. Leigh also co-wrote Infinite Monster: Courage, Hope, and Resurrection in the Face of One of America's Largest Hurricanes. She resides with her husband and daughter in Houston, Texas.