Ida Causes Catastrophic Damage To Southeast Lousiana

Highlight: Ida causes catastrophic damage to Southeast Louisiana. Ida is not done, life threatening flash-flooding shifting inland.

Fig. 1: Morning weather satellite view of Tropical Storm Ida.

Fig. 2: Morning satellite view of the North Atlantic basin.

Fig. 3: Verification of where tropical storm/hurricane force wind occurred.

Fig. 4: Latest NOAA/NHC rainfall forecast associated with Ida.

Discussion: At 8AM EDT Tropical Storm Ida was located at 31.5N/90.8W or about 65 miles south-southwest of Jackson, Mississippi. Ida is moving north at 8 mph with top wind 45 mph and central pressure 993 MB.

Ira continues to weaken. However, very heavy rain and dangerous wind squalls plus tornado risk remain east and southeast of the storm center today. As Ida becomes extra-tropical tomorrow night/Wednesday, the heaviest rain will shift to near and north of the forecast track. Up to 10 in. of rain is possible well north in far western Maryland to parts of Pennsylvania.

Elsewhere, Tropical Depression 10 is located in the central subtropical North Atlantic basin. This system drifts north this week and is expected to become a tropical storm midweek.

A strong tropical wave has moved off the West Africa Coast. This system is likely to develop quickly and could be a hurricane later this week in the central North Atlantic tropics.

In southeastern Louisiana, hurricane force wind was observed to the MS/LA state line and across most of southeast Louisiana including New Orleans to near Baton Rouge.