Ida Weakens In Hostile Environment

Ida weakens due to wind shear, cold sea surface temps, and dry air. All hurricane warnings have been dropped. Tropical storm warnings from Louisiana to Florida. Isolated heavy rainfall along the northern Gulf Coast expected. It looks like Ida is transitioning from a tropical to an extra-tropical or winter-type low pressure system. High winds and isolated heavy rain will still be a problem.

9AM Update from National Hurricane Center:

The center of tropical storm Ida was located near latitude 26.5 North, longitude 88.3 West, or about 185 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi river and about 285 miles south-southwest of Pensacola, Florida

Ida is moving toward the north-northwest near 17 mph. A turn toward the north and then to the north-northeast is expected over the next 24 hours. On the forecast track, the center of Ida is expected to make landfall along the northern Gulf Coast Tuesday morning. After landfall, a turn to the east is expected on Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds continue to decrease and area now near 70 mph with higher gusts. Some additional weakening is expected today as Ida approaches the coast.

-Dawn Brown