Ida makes landfall as catastrophic category 4 hurricane

CHARLOTTE, N.C. —

Hurricane Ida makes landfall

Officially at 11:55 AM CDT Hurricane Ida made landfall as an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane near Port Fourchon, Louisiana. Winds were sustained at 150 mph and a minimum central pressure of 930 mb. That is an extremely strong hurricane and this will be one of worst hurricanes to ever impact the United States. Wind gusts are still possible up to 185 mph. We really will not know how much damage or will be done from this storm until it clears.

Location: 25 miles west-northwest of of Grand Isle, Louisiana

Impacts: United States northern Gulf coast: including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the western Florida panhandle

On August 26th, Tropical storm Ida was born and it strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane just after 1 p.m. August 27th. Shortly after, the storm made landfall on the Isle of Youth, the second-largest Cuban island. The second landfall was near Pinar Del Rio, Cuba with sustained winds at 80 mph. It was over the island for about 3-4 hours.

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Saturday through Sunday Morning: Ida went into a process called “rapid intensification” as it moved through the Gulf of Mexico. These warm waters allow for hurricanes historically to thrive and grow. Two examples are Hurricane Katrina (2005) and Hurricane Michael (2018). 

• Central pressure will dropped significantly
• The eye wall formed Saturday evening
• Sustained winds increase over 50 mph in a 24 hour period

Historically, storm surge is the largest threat to life and property within a tropical cyclone. The water level rise due to Ida is expected to be the worst from Morgan City, LA to the mouth of the Mississippi River where the water levels could peak between 10 to 15 feet.

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for east of Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana to the Alabama/Florida border, Vermilion Bay, Lake Borgne, Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Mobile Bay.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Intracoastal City, Louisiana to the mouth of the Pearl River, Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Metropolitan New Orleans.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Cameron, Louisiana to west of Intracoastal City, Louisiana, the mouth of the Pearl River to the Alabama/Florida border.

One of the worst features of a hurricane is the amount of rain it brings to an area. Louisiana is incredibly low in elevation for flooding and storm surge is magnified. The peak rain around the core is estimated to be up to 15″+. Also 3-10″ of rain will spread across Mississippi.

Tropical Depression Ten formed in the central Atlantic Ocean Saturday morning. The system is expected to drift northward over the next few days when it could become a tropical storm.

It’s expected to stay well east of the Lesser Antilles. Next storm name on the list is Julian.

Tropical Depression Eleven formed in the sub-tropical Atlantic Ocean Saturday evening. Eleven is expected to become a short-lived tropical storm.

It is no threat to the United States. It’s racing against Ten for our next named storm.

Location: over Africa

Development Chance: 70% within the next five days

This is a new area to monitor in the Atlantic Basin. A tropical wave is expected to emerge off the African coast by mid-next week. Conditions will be marginally conducive for development.

It’s much too early to know what could happen with this disturbance. Stay tuned for updates!

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