Tropical Storm Ida forms, threatens Gulf Coast: Track the storm, its possible impacts

The National Hurricane Center announced that Tropical Depression Nine has strengthened to Tropical Storm Ida, which is forecast to become a hurricane by Sunday. It is expected to make landfall in the Gulf Coast as a powerful hurricane.

The storm has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, according to an an advisory issued at 4:20 p.m. Central from the National Hurricane Center.

The storm is located about 130 miles southeast of Grand Cayman, and is moving northwest at 14 mph. This general movement should continue over the next few days. 

Cone of uncertainty: See the latest graphic from the NHC

Satellite images: See latest satellite image from NOAA, for a clearer picture of the storm’s size

The storm is expected to pass near or over the Cayman Islands on Thursday night, western Cuba on Friday, and over the Gulf of Mexico on Friday night and Saturday. It is forecast to approach the U.S. northern Gulf Coast on Sunday.

It is expected to become a hurricane when it is near western Cuba or over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

Latest data on the system

Here is the latest data on the storm, pulled from the National Hurricane Center’s 4 p.m. Central advisory.

• Location: 130 miles southeast of Grand Cayman
• Maximum sustained winds: 40 mph
• Movement: Northwest at 14 mph
• Pressure: 1,006 MB (millibars)
• When next advisory will be released: 7 p.m. Central

Spaghetti models: Track the storm here