Ida expected to be an extremely dangerous major hurricane as it hits Louisiana, U.S.

Hurricane "Ida" is moving over the Gulf of Mexico through an area favorable for rapid intensification. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) expects it to be an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the coast of Louisiana by late Sunday, August 29, 2021, or early Monday.

• There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge inundation Sunday along the coasts of Louisiana and Mississippi within the Storm Surge Warning area. Extremely life-threatening inundation of 3 – 4.5 m (10 to 15 feet) above ground level is possible within the area from Morgan City, Louisiana, to the Mouth of the Mississippi River. Interests throughout the warning area should follow any advice given by local officials, NHC said.¹
• Ida is expected to be an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the coast of Louisiana. Hurricane-force winds are expected Sunday in portions of the Hurricane Warning area along the Louisiana coast, including metropolitan New Orleans, with potentially catastrophic wind damage possible where the core of Ida moves onshore. Actions to protect life and property should be rushed to completion in the warning area.
• Ida is likely to produce heavy rainfall later Sunday into Monday across the central Gulf Coast from southeast Louisiana to coastal Mississippi resulting in significant flash and riverine flooding impacts. As Ida moves inland, flooding impacts are possible across portions of the Lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys.

At 12:00 UTC on August 28, the center of Hurricane "Ida" was located about 620 km (385 miles) SSE of the Mouth of the Mississippi River and 710 km (440 miles) SSE of New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.

It had maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h (85 mph), making it a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind scale.

The storm had a minimum central pressure of 985 hPa and was moving NW at 26 km/h (16 mph).²

Hurricane "Ida" at 11:50 UTC on August 28, 2021. Credit: NOAA/GOES-East, RAMMB/CIRA, TW

• A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for areas east of Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana to the Mississippi/Alabama border; Vermilion Bay, Lake Borgne, Lake Pontchartrain, and Lake Maurepas.
• 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 Storm Surge Watch is in effect for the Sabine Pass to Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana; Mobile Bay.
• A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Cameron, Louisiana to the west of Intracoastal City, Louisiana; Mouth of the Pearl River to the Mississippi/Alabama border.
• A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Cameron, Louisiana to the west of Intracoastal City, Louisiana; Mouth of the Pearl River to the Mississippi/Alabama border.
• A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Mississippi/Alabama border to the Alabama/Florida border.

Ida is moving toward the northwest and this general motion should continue through late Sunday or early Monday, followed by a slower northward motion on Monday. 

On the forecast track, the center of Ida will move over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico today and move over the central Gulf of Mexico tonight and early Sunday.

Ida is then expected to make landfall along the U.S. northern Gulf coast within the hurricane warning area on Sunday, and then move inland over portions of Louisiana or western Mississippi later on Monday.

Ida strengthened into a hurricane at 17:10 UTC on Friday, August 27, 2021, just 50 km (31 miles) ESE of the Isle of Youth. Landfall took place at 18:00 UTC with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 987 hPa.³

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency and urged residents to ready themselves for the hurricane immediately.⁴

"Now is the time to finish your preparations," he told a Friday afternoon news conference. "By nightfall tomorrow night, you need to be where you intend to ride out the storm."

New Orleans officials ordered residents to evacuate communities outside the city's levee system, and posted voluntary evacuation notices for the rest of the parish.

References:

¹ Hurricane Ida Discussion Number 8 – NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092021 – 400 AM CDT Sat Aug 28 2021

² BULLETIN – Hurricane Ida Intermediate Advisory Number 8A – NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092021 – 700 AM CDT Sat Aug 28 2021

³ Hurricane "Ida" makes landfall over the Isle of Youth, causing island-wide power outages, Cuba – The Watchers

⁴ U.S. Gulf Coast braces for Category 4 landfall of Hurricane Ida after Cuba takes hit – Reuters

Featured image: Hurricane "Ida" at 11:50 UTC on August 28, 2021. Credit: NOAA/GOES-East, RAMMB/CIRA, TW