Hurricane Delta Update – Oct. 9 – 1315z

Updated Oct. 9, 2020 – 1315z

• Overview
• Update from the National Hurricane Center
• Airport & Equipment Information
• Route Information
• Operational Resources
• NBAA’s HERO Database

Overview

Hurricane Delta is currently a Category 3 hurricane. Operators should exercise caution, since the storm has a large windfield with tropical storm force winds in excess of 35 knots reaching over 160 miles from the center. This storm is still expected to be near major hurricane strength when the eye makes landfall this afternoon or evening.

NBAA Air Traffic Services expects terminal impacts across the region from south of Houston all the way to the New Orleans area, in addition to route impacts. Hurricane Delta has caused some airport to close and others to move to ATC-zero. Equipment outages have also occurred.

Update from the National Hurricane Center

According to the National Hurricane Center’s Advisory #19A, issued at 1200z:

At 700 AM CDT (1200 UTC), the center of Hurricane Delta was located near latitude 27.5 North, longitude 93.8 West. Delta is moving toward the north near 12 mph (19 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue today followed by a north-northeastward motion by tonight. On the forecast track, the center of Delta will move inland within the hurricane warning area this evening.

Maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph (195 km/h) with higher gusts. Delta is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Slow weakening is expected to begin as Delta approaches the northern Gulf coast later today, with rapid weakening expected after the center moves inland.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles (65 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles (260 km).

The latest minimum central pressure estimated from NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft data is 958 mb (28.29 inches).

Airport & Equipment Information

There are no equipment outages to note at this time.

Airport Closures/ATC Zero

• 3R2 – Le Gros Memorial Airport – Closed
• ARA – Acadiana Regional Airport – Closed
   
• LFT – Lafayette Regional Airport/Paul Fournet Field – ATC Zero until 17z on Saturday, APP worked by ZHU
• LCH – Lake Charles Regional Airport – ATC Zero until 11z on Thursday. The temporary, mobile tower at LCH was taken to Houston for safety, will be returned Sunday and re-installation should be complete by close of business Wednesday. – APP worked by ZHU
• BPT – Jack Brooks Regional Airport – ATC Zero at 13z until 17z on Saturday.
• CWF – Chennault International Airport – ATC Zero at 11z until 11z on Saturday.

Equipment Issuies

• LAFAYETTE, LA (LFT) ASR – PROTECTIVE SHUTDOWN.
• LAKE CHARLES, LA (LCH) ASR/MODE S – PROTECTIVE SHUTDOWN.
• LAKE CHARLES, LA (LCH) STANDBY ENGINE GENERATOR (SX) – PROTECTIVE SHUTDOWN (SUPPORTS ASR)
• BEAUMONT, TX (BPT) ASR – PROTECTIVE SHUTDOWN.
• NATCHEZ, MS (HEZ) RWY 13 MALSR – PROTECTIVE SHUTDOWN.
• GULF OF MEXICO, MX (PZZ) GBTS – FAILED.
• GULF OF MEXICO, MX (HHZ) GBTS – FAILED.
• GULF OF MEXICO, MX (ATP) GBTS – FAILED.
• GULF OF MEXICO, MX (GBK) GBTS – FAILED.

Dates and times are subject to change based on storm track. Refer to NOTAMs for additional information. Operators with questions can contact the ATCSCC National Operations Control Center (NOCC) at 540-359-3110.

Route Information

There are no route closures at this time.

No formal reroutes have been published at this time.

ZHU is providing miles-in-trail on aircraft landing MMUN due to hurrican- related radar outage.

Operational Resources

• National Hurricane Center
• FAA OIS page
• CADENA OIS page
• FAA Advisory Database
• FAA Current Reroutes
• FAA NOTAM Search

NBAA’s HERO Database

The NBAA Humanitarian Emergency Response Operator (HERO) Database is a list of people in the business aviation community who are part of disaster-response mobilization efforts. In the aftermath of major crises, basic information from the database is provided to organizations coordinating relief efforts. Learn more and register.