'Little Time Remains' To Prepare For Laura

5PM UPDATE: Laura now has 145 mph winds, with its center located 155 miles south of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Water levels have begun to rise along the shore and strong winds are picking up. 

Here is an overview from the NHC. 

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Key Messages:

1. Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will 
cause catastrophic damage from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to 
Intracoastal City, Louisiana, including Calcasieu and Sabine Lakes. 
This surge could penetrate up to 40 miles inland from the immediate 
coastline, and flood waters will not fully recede for several days 
after the storm. 

2. Hurricane-force winds are expected tonight in portions of the 
hurricane warning area, with catastrophic wind damage expected 
where Laura's eyewall moves onshore. Hurricane-force winds and 
widespread damaging wind gusts will spread well inland into portions 
of extreme eastern Texas and western Louisiana early Thursday. 

3. Widespread flash flooding along small streams, urban areas, and 
roadways is expected to begin this afternoon into Thursday from far 
eastern Texas into Louisiana and Arkansas. This will also lead to 
minor to moderate freshwater river flooding. The heavy rainfall 
threat and flash and urban flooding potential will spread 
northeastward into the middle-Mississippi, lower Ohio, and Tennessee 
Valleys Friday night and Saturday.

Laura has already started to spread tropical storm force winds onto the Louisiana and Texas coasts, even as the center is 190 miles offshore.

The National Hurricane Center said that "little time remains to protect life and property" from Laura. 

Winds are at 145 mph, and some additional strengthening is possible. Laura should be a category 4 storm at landfall in Upper Texas or western Louisiana. 

15 to 20 feet of storm surge are expected in some areas, which the NHC described as "Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves". 

On top of all that, 5 to 10 inches of rain are expected. 

This poses a significant flash flood threat. 

For the latest guidance, visit hurricanes.gov. Hourly updates are being provided, and the situation is rapidly changing. 

Evacuations have been ongoing for people along the Texas and Louisiana coastal areas.