Hurricane heading for Texas and Louisiana upgraded to ‘catastrophic’ Category 4

Satellite image showing Hurricane Laura in the Gulf of Mexico (NOAA via AP)

Forecasters say Laura will intensify into a “catastrophic” Category 4 hurricane – an even stronger storm than previously expected – as it heads towards Texas and Louisiana.

Satellite images show that Laura has become “a formidable hurricane” in recent hours, threatening to smash homes and sink entire communities.