News & Alerts

Hurricane Ida Weakens Overnight

As of 4:00 a.m. EST, high wind shear and the cooler waters of the Gulf are weakening  Hurricane Ida, which is now a category 1 hurricane with winds of 90 MPH.  The forecast track for Ida changed slightly westward overnight, but the storm is still projected to make landfall near the Alabama/Florida border as a weak category 1 hurricane.   

Warnings & Watches
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the area between Pascagoula, MS eastward to Indian Pass, FL.  A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours.  Anyone in this area should finalize all hurricane preparations immediately to protect life and property.

A Tropical Storm Warning and a Hurricane Watch is in effect from Grand Isle LA to Pascagoula, MS (including New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain) and from east of Indian Pass FL to Aucilla River, FL.  A Tropical Storm Warning means that Tropical Storm are expected within 24 hours.

 

NOAA Hurricane Ida Track

NOAA Hurricane Ida Track

Hurricane Ida headed toward Gulf coast

The latest information for the National Hurricane Center’s hurricane hunter aircraft shows Hurricane Ida continues to head to the Gulf coast. Moving at 15 miles per hour, it’s now located about 340 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi

Forecasters expect the storm to pick up more speed in the next 24 hours and take a turn to the northeast. Ida should near land late Monday or early Tuesday morning.

With sustained winds near 105 mpn, Ida is a Category 2 storm. Though some weakening is expected, the storm is still expected to be a hurricane when it makes landfall. Rains are expected to be heavy and local officials across the Northern Gulf coast are advising residents in low-lying areas to evacuate.

The storm is expected to go over some cooler waters and experience increasing wind shear in the next 24 to 36 hours. However, the dampening effects of the cooler water and wind shears won’t be sufficient to totally derail the storm.  It should remain a hurricane when it makes landfall. Flooding is expected.

Hurricane warnings, flood watches issued

The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane warning for the Northern Gulf coast from Pascagoula, Miss., eastward to Indian Pass, Fl. That means hurricane conditions are expected in the area within 24 hours.

A tropical storm watch was issued for the Florida coast east from Indian Pass to Aucilla River.

Flash flood watches have been issued for southeast Alabama and the western Panhandle, with forecasts of 3 to 6 inches. Rain should be getting heavier as the storm moves north across the central and eastern Gulf coast. Dangerous storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 3 to 6 feet, according to the NHC.

At 10 p.m., the center of the storm was located about 400 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River and about 457 miles south-southeast of Pensacola. The storm is moving north-northeast at nearly 14 miles per hour and is expected to pick up some speed. It

Wind speeds are about 105 mph. and hurricane force winds extend out 30 to 35 miles from the center.

Insurers in Florida not writing new coverage

With a hurricane watch for Hurricane Ida issued earlier today for parts of the Panhandle as well as the Alabama and Mississippi coasts, insurers in Florida have stopped writing new coverage.

Insurers also won’t increase or expand coverage once a tropical storm or hurricane warning has been issued for any part of the state.

They will resume writing new policies once all warnings and watches have been lifted.

Shelters set up in Escambia County

Escambia County officials declared a state of emergency this evening, anouncing school closings Monday and Tuesday and opening shelters.

The county is also calling for voluntary evacuations, starting at 7 a.m. Monday,  in low-lying areas such as Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. All mobile residents also urged to evacuate.

So far the following shelters will been:

– Pensacola High School, 500 W Maxwell St, Pensacola, FL 32501

– Pet Friendly Shelter:  Molino Park Elementary School, 899 Highway 97,
Molino, FL 32577-5018

– The Emergency Operations Center will activate at 7 a.m. Monday for Hurricane Ida. The Citizens’ Information Line will open then, 471-6600.

Hurricane Ida Winds at 105 MPH

As of 7:00 p.m. EST Hurricane Ida remains a category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale with maximum sustained winds of 105 MPH.   The forecast track for Ida has not moved much during the day and it appears that Ida will make landfall somewhere near the Alabama/Florida border on Tuesday as a category 1 hurricane or strong tropical storm. 
Hurricane Watches remain in place for the northern U.S. Gulf coast from Grand Isle, Louisiana to Mexico Beach, Florida.  A Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible in the watch area within 36 hours.  New Orleans and Tampa are not in the Watch area.
Interests in the Watch area should immediately begin hurricane preparations.  Storm surge along the gulf coast may be a major problem with Ida and boat preparations should be underway. 

NOAA Hurricane Ida Track

NOAA Hurricane Ida Track

Hurricane Ida A Category 2 Storm

Hurricane Ida continues to strengthen as it remains over warmer waters.  The system is now a category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale with maximum sustained winds of 100 MPH.  Hurricane Watches are in place for the northern U.S. Gulf coast from Grand Isle, Louisiana to Mexico Beach, Florida.  A Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible in the watch area within 36 hours.  New Orleans and Tampa are not in the Watch area.
Interests in the Watch area should immediately begin hurricane preparations.  Storm surge along the gulf coast may be a major problem with Ida and boat preparations should be underway.  NHC Is advising that some areas may see up to 8” of rain from Ida.

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Hurricane Watches issued for northern U.S. Gulf – Hurricane Ida forecast landfall on Tuesday

As of 10:00 a.m. EST, a Hurricane Watch was issued for portions of the northern U.S. Gulf coast from Grand Isle, Louisiana to the Mississippi/Alabama border.  A Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible in the watch area within 36 hours.  New Orleans is not in the Watch area.

Ida is a strong category one hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph. Ida may strengthen today and grow to a category 2 hurricane with winds of 100 mph.  As Ida moves into the Gulf, it is forecast to weaken as it moves older cold waters and areas of strong wind shear.  The NHC believes that Ida will now impact the U.S. with hurricane force winds and interests along the Gulf should monitor Ida closely.  

 

NOAA Ida Track

NOAA Ida Track

Hurricane Ida continues to strengthen – May impact Gulf coast

Hurricane Ida is now a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, and the storm is forecast to strengthen into a category two hurricane with winds of 100 mph later today.  As of 7:00 a.m. EST Ida had sustained winds of 90 mph and was moving NW toward the Yucatan Peninsula and into the Gulf of Mexico.  Hurricane Warnings are now in effect for much of the Peninsula, including the popular tourist destination of Cancun. 
The question with Ida is what impact will it have on the U.S.?  The current official tract for Ida brings the system as a category one hurricane just off the coast of Louisiana at 12:00 A.M. Tuesday.  The Track does not bring the system crossing over land and curves Ida to the east in the Gulf and then south where the storm will dissipate due to high wind shear and colder waters.  If the current track is correct, much of the Gulf coast will experience tropical storm force winds and significant rain.  If the system takes a more NW track, Ida could impact the U.S. as a category one hurricane.  The NHC is advising interests along the Gulf to monitor their local National Weather Service office for more information.

NOAA Hurricane Ida Track

NOAA Hurricane Ida Track

Tropical Storm Ida strengthens – Forecast to become a Category 1 hurricane

Tropical Storm Ida is just below Category 1 hurricane strength with 70 mph winds and is now headed north toward the Gulf.  Ida remains over the very warm waters of the Caribbean and is expected to continue to strengthen and may reach Category 2 status on the Saffir-Simpson scale.   Ida is heading north and Hurricane Watches are now in effect for the Yucatan Peninsula and the Mexican tourist destination of Cancun.
The future of Ida remains unclear and there is great discrepancy on the forecast models.   It does appear that Ida may impact the U.S.  as a tropical storm on Tuesday or Wednesday, but Ida’s future track and strength is difficult to forecast.   Interests in the U.S. along the Gulf should monitor Ida over the next several days.

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