UPDATE 8/30/21 5 PM
Ida has weakened to a tropical depression over central Mississippi near Jackson. The storm will continue bringing heavy rainfall to parts of the Ohio Valley southward to northwest Florida. The system will become post tropical and exit the U.S. later this week. This is the final advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/30/21 2PM
At 2pm, Ida is still classified as a tropical storm with 40mph winds & starting to broaden out. Heavy rain bands along with isolated tornadoes continue to move NE with Ida. It will eventually weaken to a non-tropical low over the mid-Atlantic states by Wednesday.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST CINDY PRESZLER
UPDATE 8/30/21 11 AM
Ida's winds are now down to 40 mph and the storm will continue weakening as it moves across Mississippi today. A threat for heavy rain, gusty winds and isolated tornadoes will continue through today from the Gulf Coast to the Mid-South with the threat for heavy rain shifting to the Middle Atlantic, Ohio Valley and Northeast later this week.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/30/21 8 AM
Ida continues to weaken and now has maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 45 mph with higher gusts. Additional rapid weakening is forecast during the next day or so, and Ida is expected to become a tropical depression this afternoon. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 150 miles, mainly southeast of the center over water. A coastal marine observing site at Dauphin Island, Alabama, recently reported sustained winds of 38 mph and a gust to 46 mph. A wind gust to 45 mph was recently measured at Biloxi, Mississippi. The estimated minimum central pressure is 993 mb.
FOX 4 MORNING METEOROLOGIST TRENT ARIC
UPDATE 8/30/21 5 AM
Ida has been downgraded to a tropical storm over southwestern Mississippi.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased near 60 mph with higher gusts. Additional rapid weakening is forecast during the next day or so, and Ida is expected to become a tropical depression by this evening.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 150 miles, mainly southeast of the center. A sustained wind of 32 mph and a gust to 52 mph were recently observed at the airport in McComb, Mississippi. Along the Gulf coast, a Weatherflow station in Gulfport, Mississippi, recently measured a sustained wind of 46 mph and a gust to 66 mph. The estimated minimum central pressure is 990 mb.
FOX 4 MORNING METEOROLOGIST TRENT ARIC
UPDATE 8/30/21 1 AM
Ida continues weakening with winds now down to 85 mph and a pressure of 966 mb.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/30/21 12 AM
Ida continues to weaken as it moves inland. The storm just crossed I-12 between Baton Rouge and Hammond LA. Winds continue to gust to over 100 mph, with Mandeville LA on the Northshore of Lake Ponchartrain receiving a 111 mph wind gust.
Damaging winds will continue spreading inland overnight into south Mississippi. Storm surge and flooding will continue overnight for coastal LA and MS. Tornadoes will still be possible in the rain bands.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/29/21 11 PM
Ida continues north and is located near Hammond LA. Winds are down to 105 mph. The eyewall continues to collapse on radar and is not as well-defined as it was just a few hours ago. The storm remains very strong with a wind gust of 90 mph just reported at MSY Louis Armstrong International Airport in Kenner. Damaging winds will continue to lift northward into south Mississippi through early Monday morning. Flooding rainfall and a tornado threat will continue overnight and into the day Monday.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/29/21 10 PM
Ida continues to weaken as it moves inland. Right now the center of circulation is northwest of LaPlace and is moving NNW. New Orleans continues to be hammered with wind and very heavy rainfall. A few tornado warnings are being issued for rotation in the outer bands.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/29/21 9 PM
Winds are now down to 115 mph. Pressure is at 947 mb. Moving NNW at 9. The center of circulation is near LaPlace LA with the eastern eyewall hammering locations long I-10. All of Orleans Parish is now without power 750,000 customers due to a failure of the power grid. There is also a report of 22 river barges that have broken looks on the MS River one of which has hit a bridge at Lafitte.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/29/21 8 PM
Winds are now down to 120 but the storm is unleashing its power on New orleans. The degrading eyewall is now located north of Raceland LA and is approaching LaPlace. Damaging hurricane force winds are hammering New Orleans right now. Strong winds are pounding Baton Rouge which is in the northwestern portion of the circulation. The eye will cross I-10 and parallel I-55 and head toward Hammond LA in the next few hours.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/29/21 7 PM
Ida is still hammering Houma LA with the eyewall beginning to show signs of degrading as the storm weakens. Winds are down to 125, a Category 3. The pressure is up to 941 mb. The storm is moving more north and the western eyewall is affecting Houma and Thibodeaux. The eastern eyewall is now moving into the western portions of New Orleans.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/29/21 5 PM
Ida continues to weaken as it slowly moves inland. Winds are now down to 130 mph and the pressure is up to 938 mb. The storm is now located 45 mi southwest of New Orleans or near Lockport and Houma LA. The storm will continue moving inland along the River Parishes through this evening. Damaging winds will continue spreading into New Orleans over the next several hours.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/29/21 4 PM
ida continues to weaken as it moves inland. The center is now located southeast of Houma LA with max winds at 140 and the pressure is up to 937 mb. The storm will continue weakening as it moves farther inland this evening and tonight. The storm should be down to Cat 1 strength by midnight tonight near Baton Rouge.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/29/21 3 PM
Ida made a second landfall near Galliano LA moments ago. Winds are now down to 145 mph. Pressure has risen to 934 mb which indicates weakening has begun.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/29/21 2 PM
Ida still has winds of 150 as it wobbles westward over Terrebonne Bay. Wind gusts over 130 mph have been reported in Grand Isle with significant storm surge ongoing. The storm will continue moving northward deeper into LaFourche and Terrebonnne Parishes. Places such as Houma, Raceland and Thibodeaux will experience damaging hurricane-force winds over Category 3 strength in the next couple of hours.
Metro New Orleans and Baton Rouge will see winds increase later today with sustained hurricane force winds expected by tonight.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/29/21 1` PM
Ida just made landfall in Port Fourchon LA has a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 150 mph. Pressure was measured at 930 mb. Weakening is expected as the storm moves inland but the storm will still bring strong hurricane force winds well inland, as far north as southwest Mississippi late tonight into early Monday. The New Orleans metro stands to see winds in excess of 100 mph for several hours as the core of the storm passes just west of the city.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/29/21 1`2 PM
Ida is close to making landfall in Port Fourchon LA as a Cat 4 with winds of 150 mph. The storm has leveled off in strength as an eyewall replacement cycle appears to be occurring with the inner eyewall collapsing and a larger outer eyewall taking over as the dominant eyewall. This will increase the size of the wind field raising the chances that New Orleans and Baton Rouge will see a period of significant sustained hurricane force winds later today.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/29/2`1 10 AM
Ida is getting closer to the coast with winds remaining at 150 mph. Pressure has leveled off at 930 mb. The storm should make landfall by noon Central Time in either LaFourche or Terrebonne Parish as a strong Cat 4. An EXTREME WIND WARNING now has now been issued by the National Weather Service in Slidell LA for the potential for destructive Cat 3 or higher winds in the eyewall. This would include lower Terrebonne, lower LaFourche, lower Jefferson, lower St. Charles portions of St. Bernard and lower Plaquemines Parishes.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/29/21 8 AM
Ida is now less than 50 mi from the LA coast and winds remain at 150 but the pressure has dropped another 2 millibars, so strengthening is still occurring. Winds could reach up to 155 before landfall in a few hours. Catastrophic damage is expected across Terrebonne and LaFourche Parishes in LA with a storm surge of 12 to 16 ft expected to the right of the landfall point.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/29/21 5 AM
Ida intensified explosively overnight and is now a strong Cat 4 with winds of 150 mph. The storm is very close to the LA coast and is located about 75 mi south of the mouth of the MS River.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/28/21 11 PM
The NOAA Hurricane Hunters investigated Ida earlier this evening and found that the maximum winds were still around 90 kt, but the pressure continues fall. There has been little change to the track forecast except for a small shift to the east. Although landfall is not expected for about 18 hours, impacts will begin well before that time. Tropical-storm-force winds are likely to begin overnight. Ida remains over waters with high oceanic heat content and in an atmospheric environment of low wind shear and abundant moisture. These conditions, combined with the improved structure of the hurricane, should allow Ida to rapidly intensify until it makes landfall. After the storm moves inland on Sunday, rapid weakening is forecast due to a combination of land interaction, drier air, and some increase in wind shear.
FOX 4 FORECASTER LAUREN PETRELLI
UPDATE 8/28/21 8 PM
Ida is moving toward the northwest near 16 mph, and this general motion should continue through late Sunday. Data from the NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft shows winds are near 105 mph with higher gusts. Rapid strengthening is forecast during the next 12 to 24 hours and Ida is expected to be an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it makes landfall along the Louisiana coast on Sunday. The storm should make landfall along the coast of Louisiana within the hurricane warning area Sunday afternoon or evening.
FOX 4 FORECASTER LAUREN PETRELLI
UPDATE 8/28/21 5 PM
Hurricane Ida appears to have started its anticipated rapid intensification phase. Satellite shows the eye becoming more apparent in both infrared and visible satellite imagery. Ida has moved a little to the right of the previous track, but the long-term motion is still northwestward. A favorable upper-level wind pattern, warm waters along the track, and a moist atmosphere are expected to allow for additional rapid strengthening overnight and early Sunday. This will allow the storm to be at Category 4 status within 12 to 18 hours. Both NOAA and Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft are scheduled to be in the hurricane within the next few hours.
FOX 4 FORECASTER LAUREN PETRELLI
UPDATE 8/28/21 2 PM
Hurricane Ida continues to move through the warm Gulf in a northwest motion which will continue through the weekend. Satellite imagery indicates that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 100 mph with even higher gusts. Additional rapid strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours and with Ida being an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it approaches the northern Gulf coast on Sunday. Ida is then expected to make landfall along the coast of Louisiana within the hurricane warning area on Sunday and then move inland over portions of Louisiana and western Mississippi later on Monday.
FOX 4 FORECASTER LAUREN PETRELLI
UPDATE 8/28/21 11 AM
Winds remain at 85 mph. The pressure has dropped a bit more to 984, but rapid intensification is expected to occur soon. The satellite presentation still looks quite impressive. The forecast still brings it into southern LA as a Cat 4 late Sunday, so that hasn't changed.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/28/21 8 AM
Winds have increased to 85 mph and the pressure is down to 985 mb. The storm appears to be undergoing rapid intensification. On satellite the storm is looking more symmetric, with a round central dense overcast, good outflow in all quadrants (exhaust system) and banding features. The storm is moving over some of the warmest water in the Gulf and significant strengthening is expected to occur today through Sunday before landfall.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/28/21 5 AM
Hurricane Ida's winds remain at 80 mph this morning and the pressure is at 987 mb. The storm appears to still be dealing with some westerly shear but conditions will improve and rapid strengthening is expected once it moves over the warm waters of the Loop Current and shear lessens. Landfall near Morgan City LA is expected late Sunday.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/27/21 11PM
Hurricane Ida has maintained its 80mph winds even as it has been moving over Cuba this evening. The only change from earlier is the forecast strength. The NHC now indicates it should reach cat. 4 strength on Sunday morning but weaken back to a cat. 3 right before landfall Sunday night. Changes can happen so it will need too be watched & tracked closely.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST CINDY PRESZLER
UPDATE 8/27/21 8PM
Hurricane Ida is located over western Cuba as of 8pm and maintaining 80mph winds. It is moving NW at 15mph and will be back over the very warm water of the Gulf overnight. Rapid intensification is expected over the weekend reaching category 4 by Sunday. Impacts for SWFL will be minimal... could see wind gusts to 25mph along the beaches tomorrow.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST CINDY PRESZLER
UPDATE 8/27/21 5PM
Hurricane Ida continues to=o strengthen even as it is moving over Cuba. Winds have increased to 80mph which is a category 1. It will move into the Gulf tomorrow where water is very warm. Strengthening is expected & it is now forecast to become a category 2 but by Sunday, a category 4 with 140mph winds It will reach the coast of Louisiana as a major hurricane with storm surge, wind, & flooding.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST CINDY PRESZLER
UPDATE 8/27/21 2PM
Ida is now a category 1 hurricane as it made landfall over Isle of Youth, Cuba. Winds have increased to 75mph but strengthening is forecast as it moves back over the warm water in the Gulf. The current track takes it toward Louisiana on Sunday as at least a cat. 3 but residents should prepare for a cat. 4. Evacuations are underway.
FOX $ METEOROLOGIST CINDY PRESZLER
UPDATE 8/27/21 11 AM
Radar imagery from Grand Cayman and Cuba, as well as satellite data, continue to show an improvement in Ida's overall structure this morning. A combination of weather elements including warm sea surface temperatures and a moist environment could result in steady to rapid strengthening. Ida is now forecast to become a hurricane when it is near western Cuba. As the storm moves over the Gulf, rapid intensification to major hurricane strength between the next 24 and 48 hours. In addition to the increase in strength, Ida's wind field will also grow larger as it moves over the Gulf. There is higher-than-normal confidence that a significant hurricane will impact a large portion of the northern Gulf Coast by late this weekend and early next week. At this time, there is no threat to us here in Southwest Florida.
FOX 4 FORECASTER LAUREN PETRELLI
UPDATE 8/27/21 8 AM
Air Force and NOAA Aircraft find Ida is strengthening over the northwest Caribbean this morning.
Data from those aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph with higher gusts, and additional steady to rapid strengthening is expected during the next few days. Ida is forecast to become a hurricane over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, and to be at or near major hurricane strength when it approaches the northern Gulf coast.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure from reconnaissance aircraft data is 996 mb.
FOX 4 MORNING METEOROLOGIST TRENT ARIC
UPDATE 8/27/21 5 AM
Radar data from Grand Cayman and satellite imagery indicate that Ida is becoming better organized just to the north of Grand Cayman. Currently an Air Force Reserve and NOAA Hurricane Hunter Aircraft are on their way to investigate the storm.
Ida is now forecast to become a major hurricane before making landfall in Louisiana.
The new intensity forecast is slightly stronger than the previous forecast, and it now calls for Ida to reach a peak intensity of 115mph before landfall.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 45 mph with higher gusts, and additional steady to rapid strengthening is expected during the next few days. Ida is forecast to become a hurricane over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico in a day or two. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1001 mb. Grand Cayman Island recently reported a pressure of 1003 mb.
FOX 4 MORNING METEOROLOGIST TRENT ARIC
UPDATE 8/26/21 11 PM
No change in strength tonight as the storm is still ingesting dry air. Conditions become more favorable this weekend as it moves into the Gulf. Significant strengthening will be possible as it moves toward the northern Gulf coast. Forecast cone with this advisory has been shifted east and stretches from Cameron LA to Mobile AL. This could be a high impact event for southeast LA with the threat for storm surge, flooding, tornadoes and high winds spreading well inland.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/26/21 520 PM
Hurricane hunters flying around inside TD9 have determined that winds have increased enough to classify it as Tropical Storm Ida. The track remains unchanged with strengthening into a hurricane by this weekend and a landfall on the coast of Louisiana later Sunday as a Cat 2 hurricane.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 8/26/21 5 PM
Tropical Depression 9 hasn't organized much since this morning. Some dry air is being entrained into the west side of the storm, but strengthening is expected soon. The official forecast brings it into the Gulf with significant strengthening possible and brings it to Cat 2 status before landfall in southeast Louisiana late Sunday. Damaging winds will then spread inland across Louisiana and Mississippi into Monday morning. Expect significant storm surge along the LA/MS/AL coast as well as over 10" of rainfall in some areas.
Besides higher surf and rip currents this weekend, the storm will have little influence on our weather here in SWFL.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
FIRST UPDATE 8/26/21 11 AM
Tropical Depression 9 has formed in the Caribbean. NHC will begin issuing advisories on newly formed Tropical Depression 9. The storm will track northwest through the Yucatan Channel and will strengthen. The storm is expected to become a hurricane this weekend with a legitimate threat to the northern Gulf coast. Right now it looks like the most likely landfall point will be somewhere in Louisiana, specifically the area around Houma. This would put New Orleans squarely on the eastern side of the circulation, with the highest winds and the potential for significant storm surge. Hurricane Hunters are scheduled to fly into the storm this afternoon and more information will be available then.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
