Ida rapidly intensifies to a Category 1 hurricane, makes landfall on the Isle of Youth

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.

Newly formed Hurricane Ida is expected to impact the northern Gulf coast this weekend. It’s too early to tell if the Carolinas will see notable impacts. Elsewhere, we have three areas to watch.

Location: 145 miles east of western Cuba

Potential Impacts: Isle of Youth, western Cuba, United States northern Gulf coast

Ida rapidly intensified to a Category 1 hurricane just after 1 p.m. Friday. Shortly after, the storm made landfall on the Isle of Youth, the second-largest Cuban island.

A sustained wind of 44 mph and a gust of 60 mph were reported on Cayo Largo, Cuba.

RELATED: When the National Hurricane Center updates hurricane info?

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 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.

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.

Location: South-central Atlantic

Development Chance: 80% within the next 2 – 5 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.

Development Chance: 20% 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!

RELATED: What’s in a name: ‘H’ named tropical systems and Henri

RELATED: What’s in a Name: Famous ‘F’ Named Tropical Systems and Tropical Storm Fred