Hurricane Ida could be 'dangerous major hurricane' as it approaches Gulf coast Sunday

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Ida strengthened from a tropical storm into a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico on Friday, and continues to move northwest across the southeastern Gulf of Mexico Saturday morning. 

The storm has maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, according to a 4 a.m. Central update from the National Hurricane Center.

The storm is located 510 miles southeast of New Orleans, and is moving northwest at 16 mph.

As of the 4 a.m. Central advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Ida was roughly midway between the nearest parts of Florida and Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula.

Cone of uncertainty: See the latest graphic from the NHC

Satellite images: See latest satellite image from NOAA, for a clearer picture of the storm’s size

The center of the storm is forecast to move over the southeastern and central Gulf of Mexico on Saturday and Sunday and make landfall along the northern U.S. Gulf Coast by late Sunday.

The National Hurricane Center warned, “Rapid strengthening is forecast during the next 24 to 36 hours and Ida is expected to be an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it approaches the northern Gulf coast on Sunday.”

Hurricane-force winds extend 25 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend 115 miles from the center.

The storm is located 802 miles east of Corpus Christi, and is moving northwest at 16 mph.

Latest data on Hurricane Ida

Here is the latest data on Hurricane Ida pulled from the National Hurricane Center’s 400 AM CDT Sat Aug 28 2021 advisory.

  • Location: 510 miles southeast of New Orleans
  • Maximum sustained winds: 80 mph
  • Movement: Northwest at 16 mph
  • Pressure: 987 MB (millibars)

Watches, warnings and evacuations

  • CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: The Government of Cuba has discontinued all warnings for Cuba. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
  • A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for… * 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… * Sabine Pass to Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge Louisiana * Mobile Bay
  • A Hurricane Watch is in effect for… * Cameron Louisiana to 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 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
  • A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations.
  • For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov.
  • This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.
  • A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
  • A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours. A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life

Spaghetti models: Track Ida here

The National Weather Service says Hurricane Ida will soon become more powerful.