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7 pm Advisory — Hurricane Ida Inland Over Pinar Del Rio, Cuba; Rapid Strengthening Forecast This Weekend

| August 27, 2021 @ 6:57 pm

At 6:25 pm CDT, satellite images, radar data from Cuba, and data from the NOAA Hurricane Hunters indicate that Ida has made landfall in the Cuban province of Pinar Del Rio, about 20 miles (30 km) east of La Coloma. Maximum sustained winds are estimated to be 80 mph (130 km/h).

LOCATION…22.3N 83.3W
ABOUT 85 MI…135 KM SW OF HAVANA, CUBA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…80 MPH…130 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NW OR 320 DEGREES AT 15 MPH…24 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…985 MB…29.09 INCHES

Now at 7 pm CDT…

SUMMARY OF 7 PM CDT INFORMATION
LOCATION…22.4N 83.5W
ABOUT 90 MI…145 KM SW OF HAVANA, CUBA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…80 MPH…130 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NW OR 320 DEGREES AT 15 MPH…24 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…985 MB…29.09 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for…
* East of Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana to the Mississippi/Alabama border
* Vermilion Bay, Lake Borgne, Lake Pontchartrain, and Lake Maurepas

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…
* Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio and Artemisa, and the Isle of Youth
* Intracoastal City, Louisiana, to the Mouth of the Pearl River
* Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Metropolitan New Orleans

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for…
* Sabine Pass to Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana
* Mobile Bay

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…
* Cameron Louisiana to west of Intracoastal City, Louisiana
* Mouth of the Pearl River to the Mississippi/Alabama border

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Cuban provinces of Matanzas, Mayabeque, and Havana
* Cameron Louisiana to west of Intracoastal City, Louisiana
* Mouth of the Pearl River to the Mississippi/Alabama border

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…
* Mississippi/Alabama border to the Alabama/Florida border

FORECAST DISCUSSION
At 800 PM EDT (0000 UTC), the center of Hurricane Ida was located over western Cuba near latitude 22.4 North, longitude 83.5 West. Ida is moving toward the northwest near 15 mph (24 km/h), and this general motion should continue until Ida reaches the northern Gulf coast on Sunday. A slower northward motion is forecast after Ida reaches the northern Gulf coast. On the forecast track, the center of Ida will remain over western Cuba for another hour or two, and then move over the southeastern and central Gulf of Mexico later tonight and Saturday. Ida is forecast to make landfall along the U.S. northern Gulf coast within the hurricane warning area on Sunday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 80 mph (130 km/h) with higher gusts. Steady to rapid strengthening is expected when Ida moves over the southeastern and central Gulf of Mexico over the weekend, and Ida is expected to be an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it approaches the northern Gulf coast on Sunday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km). A wind gust to 46 mph (74 km/h) has recently been reported on Cayo Largo, Cuba.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 985 mb (29.09 inches).

HAZARDS TO LAND
STORM SURGE: A dangerous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 4 to 6 feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore winds along the immediate coast of the Isle of Youth and near and to the east of where the center crosses the coast of western Cuba. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…

* Morgan City, LA to Mouth of the Mississippi River…10-15 ft
* Mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs, MS including Lake Borgne…7-11 ft
* Intracoastal City, LA to Morgan City, LA including Vermilion Bay…6-9 ft
* Ocean Springs, MS to MS/AL border…4-7 ft
* Lake Pontchartrain…4-7 ft
* Lake Maurepas…3-5 ft
* Pecan Island, LA to Intracoastal City, LA…3-5 ft
* MS/AL border to AL/FL border including Mobile Bay…2-4 ft
* Sabine Pass to Pecan Island, LA…2-4 ft

Overtopping of local levees outside of the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System is possible where local inundation values may be higher than those shown above.

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the east of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.

WIND: Hurricane and tropical storm conditions are occurring over the Isle of Youth and portions of western Cuba, and will continue through tonight in western Cuba.

Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning area along the northern Gulf coast beginning Sunday, with tropical storm conditions expected to begin by late Saturday night.

RAINFALL: Ida is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 6 to 10 inches, with maximum totals of 15 inches across Jamaica. Rainfall totals of 8 to 12 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches are expected across the Cayman Islands and western Cuba, including the Isle of Youth. These rainfall amounts may produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

As Ida approaches the central Gulf Coast Sunday afternoon, total rainfall accumulations of 8 to 16 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches are possible from southeast Louisiana to coastal Mississippi and Alabama through Monday morning. This is likely to result in considerable flash, urban, small stream, and riverine flooding impacts.

Ida is forecast to turn northeast as it moves inland later Monday, with rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches possible across southern and central Mississippi into the Tennessee Valley. This is likely to result in flash, urban, small stream, and riverine flooding impacts.

SURF: Swells generated by this system will affect the Cayman Islands and Cuba through tonight. Swells will begin reaching portions of the northern Gulf coast Saturday night or early Sunday. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

All images, forecasts, and documents are courtesy of their respective publishers.

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS, Severe Weather, Tropical

About the Author ()

Scott Martin is an operational meteorologist, professional graphic artist, musician, husband, and father. Not only is Scott a member of the National Weather Association, but he is also the Central Alabama Chapter of the NWA president. Scott is also the co-founder of Racecast Weather, which provides forecasts for many racing series across the USA. He also supplies forecasts for the BassMaster Elite Series events including the BassMaster Classic.

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