Hurricane Ida Heading For Louisiana, Expected To Become Major Hurricane Saturday

HOUSTON, TX — Hurricane Ida made landfall in western Cuba on Friday and is expected to strengthen rapidly into a major hurricane as it moves the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Ida now has max sustained winds of 80 mph and is moving northwest at 15 mph, according to NHC in its 1 a.m update. Forecasts indicate the storm will reach Category 3 and possibly even Category 4 status Saturday and make landfall in Louisiana with possible winds of 140 mph on Sunday night. A hurricane warning has been issued from Intracoastal City, Louisiana, to the Pearl River, an area which includes New Orleans. A hurricane watch is in affect along the U.S. Gulf Coast from Cameron, Louisiana, to the Mississippi-Alabama border.

If Hurricane Ida were to make landfall in New Orleans on Sunday, it would come on the 16th anniversary of the landfall of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

According to National Weather Service Houston, the impact from the storm in Southeast Texas is expected to be minimal. Weather authorities warn that people along the U.S. Gulf Coast should continue to monitor the system and have hurricane preparedness plans and kits ready just in case.

Some of the potential impacts for Houston and Southeast Texas include strong rip currents along Gulf facing beaches as early as Sunday afternoon and continuing through Monday, elevated tides during times of high tide Sunday and Sunday night, wave heights of 6 to 9 ft Sunday afternoon through Monday morning and possible sustained winds of 17 to 23 mph with gusts up to 29 mph across offshore waters starting Sunday evening with improving conditions on Monday.

A storm surge watch is in effect from the Alabama-Florida border to Sabine Pass, which is at the Louisiana-Texas border.