Hurricane Ida will move into the Gulf this weekend. MS Coast could be in the cone.
Find the latest information from the 10 p.m. NHC forecast update here.
Tropical Depression Nine has been upgraded to Tropical Storm Ida after the latest data came in from the Air Force Hurricane Hunters.
Sustained winds of 40 mph were detected, the National Hurricane Center said at 4:20 p.m.
A tropical storm has winds between 39-74 mph. A Category 1 has winds 74-95 mph, Category 2 96-110 mph and Category 3 111-129 mph.
Maximum winds near the eye of Ida are forecast to be 110 mph as of the 4 p.m. NHC update.
4 p.m. update
The National Hurricane Center’s 4 p.m. update did not include any significant changes. Maximum winds are at 35 mph with steady strengthening expected.
“On the forecast track, the center of the depression will pass near or over the Cayman Islands tonight, the Isle of Youth and western Cuba Friday, and over the southeastern and central Gulf of Mexico Friday night and Saturday.”
“The system is forecast to approach the northern Gulf Coast at or near major hurricane intensity on Sunday, where there is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge, damaging hurricane-force winds, and heavy rainfall Sunday and Monday, especially along the coast of Louisiana.”
Advisories will be issued later tonight or Friday morning, the NHC said.
“Remember, NOW is the time to have your preparations in place,” the National Weather Service in New Orleans tweeted.
3 p.m. update
Kevin Gilmore, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in New Orleans, gave at 3 p.m. video update that the storm is still forming and there are a lot of variables in play.
Impacts are likely across the entire northern Gulf starting Saturday night into Monday, he said, and residents should have their preparations done by Saturday night before tropical storm winds arrive.
Gilmore reported:
▪ Latest satellite imagery shows the system is just west of Jamaica, moving northwest at a relatively fast clip of 13 mph. “This storm is experiencing conditions favorable for development,” he said.
▪ The system will move into the Gulf of Mexico late Friday or early Saturday as a strong tropical storm, and is expected to be a hurricane by the time it gets to central Gulf.
▪ The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters launched from Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi. He said forecasters will get a lot more information that will help with computer model guidance, and many more flights likely to be scheduled over the next few days.
▪ Do not try to interpret computer model graphics that can be found on social media. Trust the professionals to interpret those and issue official guidance, he said.
The Coast Guard also issued a warning to boaters:
“As we collectively prepare for this potential hurricane threat, we would ask that the boating public remain vigilant,” Capt. Will Watson, Coast Guard Sector New Orleans commanding officer, said in a press release. “Secure your boats and gear, monitor the weather closely, and stay informed.”
10 a.m. update
The 10 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center has the storm making landfall on the Louisiana coastline overnight Sunday into early Monday morning.
South Mississippi also is in the cone of areas where landfall or severe weather could occur.
Forecasts from the National Hurricane Center and Gulf Coast meteorologist Rocco Calaci urge South Mississippi residents to keep an eye on the severe weather system.
The latest NHC forecast says the system is expected to enter into the Gulf of Mexico on Friday night and move northwest toward the central or northwestern U.S. Gulf Coast.
The storm could bring “dangerous impacts” including storm surge, wind and heavy rainfall to portions of the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle by Sunday and Monday, the National Weather Service in New Orleans said.
The system’s exact track and intensity are still unknown. Landfall is projected to be close to the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina that devastated South Mississippi on Aug. 29, 2005.
As of Thursday, the European model “shows the hurricane making landfall on Monday morning and moving directly over Lafayette Louisiana as a potential high Category 1 or low Category 2 hurricane,” Calaci said. “The GFS shows landfall Sunday afternoon directly on New Orleans as either a high Category 2 or low Category 3 hurricane.”
“If the GFS is correct, then not only East Louisiana is in for a beating, but the Mississippi Gulf Coast as well.”
The Harrison County Emergency Management Agency warned Coast residents to prepare quickly.
With just over 72 hours until the potential arrival of storm conditions, all partners in Harrison County are encouraged to check their readiness and prepare now for storm impacts.”
Biloxi Port Division on Thursday “highly recommended” boat owners move them from the city’s public harbors and marinas. Public harbors in Biloxi shut down when a Hurricane or Tropical Storm Warning is issued, or 24 hours before expected landfall.
Sandbag locations
These self-serve locations in Harrison County open at 8 a.m. Friday. Bags and sand will be available, but bring a shovel.
Biloxi — District 5 Woolmarket Work Center, 16395 Old Woolmarket Road
D’Iberville — District 1 D’Iberville Work Center, 10085 Doris Deno Ave.
Gulfport
- U.S. 90 & Courthouse Riad (south of 90)
- Harrison County Road Department, 10076 Lorraine Road
- District 2 Lyman Work Center, 15001 County Farm Road
- District 4 Orange Grove Work Center, 8300 34th Ave.
Long Beach
- District 3 Long Beach Work Center, 605 North Seal Ave.
- Long Beach Harbor
These self-serve locations in Hancock County open at noon Friday Those who need assistance should contact the county Emergency Management Agency at 228-255-0942 or Hancock County Central Dispatch at 228-255-9191:
- Hancock County Horse Arena, 4184 Kiln Delisle Road
- Old Hancock County Complex, 3068 Longfellow Drive
- Lakeshore Community Center, 6440 Lower Bay Road
- Bayside Fire Department, 6215 West Hinds Street
- West Hancock Fire Department, 16006 Washington Street
- Diamondhead City Hall, 5000 Diamondhead Circle
These Jackson County self-serve location will be open by noon Friday. Bring a shovel; bags are provided.
Ocean Springs
- Public Works Department, 712 A Pine Drive
- Ocean Springs at West Division Roads Department, N. Washington Avenue (MS 609)
Fontainebleau Fire Department, 3901 MS 57 South
St. Andrews Fire Department, 1401 Elm St.
Moss Point
- New Central Fire Station, 4204 Bellview St.
East Division Roads Department, 10825 MS 63
- Forts Lake Fire Department, 10701 Forts Lake Road
- Escatawpa Fire Station, 3801 Sentinel Drive
Others in Jackson County
- Gautier behind City Hall, U.S. 90
- Pascagoula at Jackson County Fairgrounds, 2902 Shortcut Road
- Vancleave at Central Division Roads Dept., 8500 Jim Ramsey Road
Any movement to the east could put Mississippi in the cone and possibility on the “dirty side” of the hurricane.
The Sun Herald will continue to update this article.
This story was originally published August 26, 2021 at 9:06 AM.
