BEAUMONT, Texas — Ida weakened into a tropical storm early Monday morning about 16 hours after making landfall on the Louisiana coast as a major Cat 4 hurricane.
At 4 p.m. Monday evening, Ida had sustained winds of only 40 mph and was moving north/northeast at 9 mph about 20 miles southwest of Jackson, Mississippi according to the National Hurricane Service.
Parts of Louisiana experienced heavy rains and flooding and widespread outages were recorded across the state. According to Entergy New Orleans with nearly a million losing power in the region.
The system hit on the exact date Hurricane Katrina ravaged Louisiana and Mississippi 16 years earlier.
WATYCH LIVE COVERAGE | Hurricane Ida live blog coverage from our sister station, WWL, in New Orleans
A faster northeastward motion is expected to begin by tonight and continue on Tuesday. the NHC said.
The center of Ida will move farther inland over western and central Mississippi this afternoon.
Ida is forecast to move over northeastern Mississippi tonight and move across the Tennessee Valley on Tuesday and near the central Appalachians on Wednesday.
Additional rapid weakening is forecast during the next day or so, and Ida is expected to become a tropical depression Monday afternoon.
Tropical Storm Ida Watches and Warnings:
All warnings have been discontinued for the Louisiana coast west of the Pearl River, including Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas, and Metropolitan New Orleans.
- A Storm Surge Warning is in effect from the Mouth of the Pearl River to the Alabama/Florida border
- A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from the Mouth of the Pearl River to the Alabama/Florida border
From the National Hurricane Center at 4 p.m. CDT...
At 400 PM CDT (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Depression Ida was located near latitude 32.6 North, longitude 90.3 West.
The depression is moving toward the north-northeast near 9 mph (15 km/h). A faster northeastward motion is expected tonight through Wednesday.
On the forecast track, the center of Ida will move farther inland over central and northeastern Mississippi tonight. Ida is then forecast to move across the Tennessee Valley on Tuesday and near the central Appalachians on Wednesday.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional weakening is forecast during the next day or so.
The minimum central pressure estimated from surface observations is 999 mb (29.50 inches).
2021 Hurricane Season Outlook
The 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season is forecast to produce more storms than average. The reason for this is the lack of El Nino, which typically features more wind shear. We also expect warmer than average sea temperatures and an active West African Monsoon.
After a record-breaking 2020 hurricane season, we now know the Greek alphabet will no longer be used to name storms.
The World Meteorological Organization announced the Greek alphabet will not be used in the future because it "creates a distraction from the communication of hazard and storm warnings and is potentially confusing."
There has been only one other season that used the extra set of names, and that was in 2005. The World Meteorological Organization released a new set of supplemental names that will be used if the season exhausts the standard list.
Be prepared if a storm comes our way
BEFORE THE STORM
- Make a home inventory
- Have a current copy of your declarations page that has your policy number and your agent's number
- Review your policy with your insurance agent to determine if you have adequate coverage
- Repair loose boards, shingles, shutters and downspouts to prevent them from becoming an issue in high winds or torrential rain
- Have an evacuation plan, and include plans for your pets
- Make sure your emergency equipment is in working order, including a battery-powered radio, flashlights and extra batteries. Also, make sure to gather all medicine, replenish your first-aid kit and stock a week's worth of non-perishable food and water
- Charge your cell phone and fill your car with gas
- Program all emergency phone numbers
DURING THE STORM
- If you are advised to evacuate, leave as soon as possible. Retain all related receipts - they may be considered in your claim. If you aren't in a recommended evacuation and you plant to stay home, stay informed by listening to weather alerts
- Keep windows and doors closed at all time, and, if possible, board them up with wooden or metal shutters
- Stay away from the windows and in the center of the room, or, stay in an interior room
- Avoid flood water, as it may be electrically charged from downed power lines
- Check on family members and friends
AFTER THE STORM
- Check to be sure your family members are safe
- If you did evacuate, wait for official notice that it is safe to re-enter your neighborhood and your house
- Document damaged property, and take photos and videos. Don't dispose of any damaged items without approval
- Keep a record of any temporary repairs or expenses to prevent further damage to your property.
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