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Tropical Storm Ida was downgraded at 9 a.m. this morning, weakening as expected as it moves into the colder water closer to the Gulf Coast.
The hurricane warning issued Sunday night has been amended to a tropical storm warning from Grand Isle, La., to Florida.
The National Hurricane Center revised Ida’s track to the east Sunday night. The storm’s speed also had increased to 14 miles per hour. NHC expects Ida to turn north and increase forward speed today, followed by a northeast turn tonight.
Ida is expected to make landfall tonight or early Tuesday, which could increase flooding by coinciding with high tides, the National Weather Service projects will be 3 to 4 feet above normal.
In addition, Ida is forecast to drop 3 to 5 inches of rain, with as much as 8 inches in some areas.
NHC warns of “a dangerous storm surge” of 4 to 6 feet above ground level near and to the east of where Ida’s center makes landfall, accompanied by “large and destructive waves.”
County emergency management directors and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency officials are expected to announce, after a 6 a.m. conference call today, any mandatory or voluntary evacuations.
Residents of low-lying areas, especially in Hancock County, were advised Sunday to take precautions such as moving vehicles and securing property. The opening of some shelters would accompany any evacuations.
The Mississippi National Guard is sending two high-mobility trucks to each Coast emergency management agency to assist in case of flooding. Also, aircraft will be standing by for duty once Ida’s winds die.
MEMA Director Mike Womack told Coast emergency managers Sunday that he is worried about residents of 200 Mississippi cottages that could be subjected to flooding. MEMA plans to contact the residents about potential flooding, but emergency managers wanted to hold off until this morning on any evacuation decisions. Each county makes its own call about evacuations.
Ida is expected to weaken today in the Gulf from interaction with an upper level system, wind shear and cooler waters, but could still make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane. The Coast could begin experiencing tropical force winds, which are 74 mph or higher, by this afternoon.
The National Weather Service already has issued a coastal flood warning for Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties, in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday. In addition to Ida, a strong high pressure over the southeastern states and much lower pressures over the Gulf had already pushed tides higher than normal.
Hancock County Emergency Management Director Brian Adam said Sunday that residents in low-lying areas should already be preparing for flooding.
In Harrison County, Emergency manager Rupert Lacy said, “We just want people to be very cautious and aware that we’re going to have Coastal flooding.”
Lacy cautioned motorists: “Turn around. Don’t drown. Don’t go through standing water.”
He also said: “Don’t rule out changes in the weather. This system is creating a forecaster’s nightmare. It’s not truly over until it goes way far to the east and goes inland.”
Depending on the amount of rainfall, he said, flooding could be a problem through Wednesday or Thursday.
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