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Ida strengthens to hurricane status as it approaches western Cuba
Hurricane Ida is expected to make landfall along Louisiana’s Gulf Coast Sunday, possibly as a Category 3 major hurricane.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The historic peak of hurricane season is September 10, but it is late August and September that some of the more notable storms have formed and even impacted the Carolinas.
As of August 27, there are two active tropical disturbances and one tropical storm in the Atlantic and Caribbean. The main threat, however, is Tropical Storm Ida which will likely become a hurricane today.
Hurricane Ida
Location: 160 miles east of western Cuba
Potential Impacts: Isle of Youth, western Cuba, United States northern Gulf coast
As of 1:15 p.m. Friday, Ida has strengthened to hurricane status. The National Hurricane Center said a hurricane hunter plane observed maximum sustained winds of 75 mph as it nears the Isle of Youth. A sustained wind of 44 mph and a gust of 60 mph were reported on Cayo Largo, Cuba.
Ida will pass near western Cuba today and tonight. Due to minimal time over land, the terrain will not be enough to weaken Ida substantially. This weekend, the storm will emerge into the southeastern and central Gulf of Mexico. Then, it is forecast to approach the U.S. northern Gulf Coast on Sunday.
The latest track from the National Hurricane Center suggests a Category 3 major hurricane will make landfall along the Louisiana coast by Sunday afternoon. The intensity forecast is still subject to change due to the potential for rapid intensification. This is defined as a wind increase of 35 mph within 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 Ocean Springs, MS where the water levels could peak between 7 to 11 feet.
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for Sabine Pass to the Alabama/Florida border, Vermilion Bay, Lake Borgne, Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Mobile Bay.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio and Artemisa, and the Isle of Youth.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Cameron, Louisiana to the Mississippi/Alabama border, Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Metropolitan New Orleans.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, the Cuban provinces of Matanzas, Mayabeque, and Havana.
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Mississippi/Alabama border to the Alabama/Florida border.
Wave Number 1: Invest 97-L
Location: 600 miles east of Bermuda (central Atlantic)
Development Chance: 60% within the next five days
Potential Impacts: Mid-Atlantic Ocean
Development potential has lowered slightly for Invest 97-L over the past 24 hours. Conditions are marginally favorable for development late this week and this weekend, so a tropical depression could form as it drifts slowly eastward.
This system is no concern to the United States.
Wave Number 2: Invest 98-L
Location: South-central Atlantic
Development Chance: 80% within the next five days
Potential Impacts: Atlantic Ocean
An area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms continues to churn in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Moderate development is possible within the next few days, however, unfavorable conditions are expected this weekend.
This disturbance has the best chance to become our next named storm, which is Julian.