WSFA 12 Weather Blog

Ida’s Wind Threat

ssnow603 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:25:10 +0000

While one facet that will need to be monitored in the weakening, but still notable Ida is the threat of flooding, but the winds could also pose a threat across the area.

Most of the counties in the area are under a Wind Advisory or Lake Wind Advisory. This goes into effect at 8pm and lasts until 6pm tomorrow night. For places such as Montgomery, Troy, Clanton, Alexander City and the like, winds will be sustained in the 20 to 30 mile per hour range. There could also be some stronger gusts into the 40 mile per hour area, which could cause some minor damage and power outages. However, widespread severe winds are not expected.

The highest threat for Tropical Storm-level winds will be in the Southwestern counties, including such cities as Luverne, Selma, Mobile, and Andalusia, where a Tropical Storm Wind Warning is in effect.

Ida’s Flooding Threat

ssnow603 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:17:38 +0000

While Ida’s is no longer a hurricane, it will still need to be monitored here in Central and Southern Alabama, not only for a threat of some gusty winds, but for a threat of flooding.

In fact, most of the state is under a Flood Watch. This Flood Watch goes into effect at 9pm this evening and lasts through tomorrow afternoon. Some places could possibly see 3 to 6 inches of rain across the area. Thankfully, the dry weather that we have seen over the past few days works to our advantage. This will somewhat curb the threat for immediate flooding, although some urban areas could still see isolated flooding.

Already, the leading northern edge of the rain has moved into Southern parts of the state, with cities such as Troy, Andalusia and Selma seeing the start of that rainfall. It will slowly spread across the rest of the state, especially late tonight into tomorrow.

Stay tuned to this blog, WSFA 12 News, and WSFA.com for all of the latest on Ida, including the flooding threat.

Latest on Ida

Josh Johnson — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:29:35 +0000

Ida continues to weaken this morning as it approaches the northern Gulf Coast. Here are the latest numbers and update from the National Hurricane Center:

HURRICANE IDA INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER  22A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL   AL112009
600 AM CST MON NOV 09 2009

...IDA CONTINUES TO WEAKEN AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO...

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHERN GULF COAST
FROM PASCAGOULA MISSISSIPPI EASTWARD TO INDIAN PASS FLORIDA.  A
HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 24 HOURS.  PREPARATIONS TO
PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR
THE NORTHERN GULF COAST FROM GRAND ISLE LOUISIANA EASTWARD TO WEST
OF PASCAGOULA MISSISSIPPI...INCLUDING NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE
PONTCHARTRAIN.  A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 24
HOURS.  A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...IN THIS CASE WITHIN 24 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHERN GULF
COAST FROM EAST OF INDIAN PASS FLORIDA TO AUCILLA RIVER FLORIDA.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY
YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE.

AT 600 AM CST...1200 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IDA WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 25.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 88.2 WEST OR ABOUT 235 MILES...
380 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND
ABOUT 330 MILES...535 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF PENSACOLA FLORIDA.

IDA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 16 MPH...26 KM/HR.  A
TURN TOWARD THE NORTH WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED
DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...FOLLOWED BY A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHEAST
ON TUESDAY.  ON THE FORECAST TRACK...IDA IS EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS
THE GULF OF MEXICO TODAY...AND MAKE LANDFALL ALONG THE NORTHERN GULF
COAST OVERNIGHT.

DATA FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE
THAT MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 80 MPH...130
KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  IDA IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE
SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE.  ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE
NEXT 24 HOURS. HOWEVER...IDA COULD STILL BE A HURRICANE WHEN IT
APPROACHES THE GULF COAST TONIGHT.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 35 MILES...55 KM...FROM
THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 200
MILES...325 KM.

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE BASED ON DATA FROM THE
HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT IS 993 MB...29.32 INCHES.

RAINS WILL BE INCREASING WELL IN ADVANCE OF IDA ACROSS THE CENTRAL
AND EASTERN GULF COAST...BUT WILL BECOME STEADIER AND HEAVIER
LATER TODAY INTO TUESDAY.  TOTAL STORM ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 6
INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM STORM TOTALS OF 8 INCHES...ARE
POSSIBLE THROUGH TUESDAY FROM THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN GULF COAST
NORTHWARD INTO THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AND THE
SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS.

A DANGEROUS STORM SURGE WILL RAISE WATER LEVELS BY AS MUCH AS 4 TO 6
FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL ALONG THE COAST NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF
WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL. NEAR THE COAST...THE SURGE WILL BE
ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE WAVES. 

...SUMMARY OF 600 AM CST INFORMATION...
LOCATION...25.8N 88.2W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...80 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NORTH-NORTHWEST OR 335 DEGREES AT 16 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...993 MB

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
900 AM CST.

Latest on Ida and Central Alabama Threats

arae12 — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:00:30 +0000

Hurricane Ida has made it’s way into the southern Gulf of Mexico and is expected to move northward in time. As Ida enters the northern Gulf of Mexico, she will encounter much cooler seas and also a more sheared environment. These two things coupled with a weakening eye will most likely have Ida decreasing in intensity before approaching the Gulf Coast.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for parts of southern Alabama; basically Wilcox, Butler, and Crenshaw counties and counties south and west. Specific locations can be found here: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/wwa/ .

The main threats Central Alabama will see from Ida are heavy downpours (3-5″ possible in southern most counties) and gusty, strong winds. In fact, a wind advisory is in effect for parts of Central Alabama from noon until 6 pm Monday. Sustained winds from 15-25 mph are possible and gust up to 35 mph.

As far as timing is concerned, rainfall will be possible late Monday afternoon through the day on Tuesday. Ida’s remnants should filter out Tuesday evening before high pressure returns Wednesday.

Hurricane Watch Issued

Josh Johnson — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:59:02 +0000

…for the Alabama Gulf Coast. Here’s the latest NHC update:

HURRICANE IDA SPECIAL ADVISORY NUMBER  19
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL   AL112009
1200 PM CST SUN NOV 08 2009

...HURRICANE WATCH EXTENDED EASTWARD ALONG THE NORTHERN GULF
COAST...IDA STRENGTHENS A LITTLE...

AT 1200 PM CST...1800 UTC...A HURRICANE WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED EAST
OF THE MISSISSIPPI/ALABAMA BORDER TO MEXICO BEACH FLORIDA.  A
HURRICANE WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM GRAND ISLE LOUISIANA TO
MEXICO BEACH FLORIDA.  THIS WATCH DOES NOT INCLUDE THE CITY OF NEW
ORLEANS.  A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF
MEXICO FROM PLAYA DEL CARMEN TO CABO CATOCHE.  A HURRICANE WARNING
MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE
WARNING AREA WITHIN 24 HOURS.  PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND
PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION IN THE WARNING AREA.

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF
MEXICO FROM TULUM TO PLAYA DEL CARMEN.  A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT
HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE YUCATAN PENINSULA
OF MEXICO FROM PUNTA ALLEN NORTHWARD TO PLAYA DEL CARMEN AND FROM
CABO CATOCHE WESTWARD TO SAN FELIPE.  A TROPICAL STORM WARNING
MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE
WARNING AREA WITHIN 24 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CUBAN PROVINCE OF
PINAR DEL RIO.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLE OF YOUTH.

INTERESTS ELSEWHERE ALONG THE NORTHERN COAST OF THE GULF OF MEXICO
SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF IDA.  ADDITIONAL TROPICAL CYCLONE
WATCHES OR WARNINGS MAY BE REQUIRED LATER TODAY.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA IN THE UNITED
STATES...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE
MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
FORECAST OFFICE.  FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA
OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.

AT 1200 PM CST...1800 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IDA WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 21.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 86.1 WEST OR ABOUT 100 MILES...
155 KM...NORTH-NORTHEAST OF COZUMEL MEXICO AND ABOUT 75 MILES...
125 KM...WEST OF THE WESTERN TIP OF CUBA.

IDA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH...17 KM/HR. A TURN
TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST AND AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED ARE
EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...WITH A TURN TOWARD THE NORTH
LIKELY BY TUESDAY.  ON THE FORECAST TRACK....THE CENTER OF IDA
SHOULD MOVE INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO THIS AFTERNOON...AND BE NEAR THE
NORTHERN GULF COAST BY TUESDAY.

REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE
THAT MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 100 MPH...
160 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  IDA IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON
THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE.  SOME ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS
POSSIBLE TODAY...WITH GRADUAL WEAKENING EXPECTED ON MONDAY.  IDA IS
EXPECTED TO BEGIN LOSING TROPICAL CHARACTERISTICS ON TUESDAY AS IT
NEARS THE GULF COAST...BUT IT COULD REACH THE COAST AS A TROPICAL
CYCLONE.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 15 MILES...30 KM...FROM
THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO
140 MILES...220 KM.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE JUST REPORTED BY THE HURRICANE HUNTER
IS 978 MB...28.88 INCHES.

IDA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES
OVER PORTIONS OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA AND WESTERN CUBA...WITH
POSSIBLE ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 10 INCHES.

RAINS WILL BE INCREASING WELL IN ADVANCE OF IDA ACROSS THE CENTRAL
AND EASTERN GULF COAST...BUT WILL BECOME STEADIER AND HEAVIER BY
MONDAY INTO TUESDAY.  TOTAL STORM ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES
WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM STORM TOTALS OF 8 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE
THROUGH TUESDAY FROM THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN GULF COAST NORTHWARD
INTO THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AND THE SOUTHERN
APPALACHIANS.

A STORM SURGE COULD RAISE WATER LEVELS BY AS MUCH AS 3 TO 4 FEET
ABOVE GROUND LEVEL ALONG THE COAST OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA.  NEAR
THE COAST...THE SURGE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE
WAVES.

...SUMMARY OF 1200 PM CST INFORMATION...
LOCATION...21.7N 86.1W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...100 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NORTHWEST OR 325 DEGREES AT 10 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...978 MB

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER AT 1200 PM CST FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 300
PM CST.

$$

Ida Update

Rich Thomas — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:19:55 +0000

Ida will need to be monitored over the next few days as it moves toward the Gulf of Mexico. The waters in the Gulf are realtively cool an epected wind shear may proveto be a rather hostile envrioment for Ida. Here’s the latest from the National Hurricane Center.

BULLETIN
TROPICAL DEPRESSION IDA ADVISORY NUMBER   9
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL   AL112009
1000 AM EST FRI NOV 06 2009

...IDA MOVING OVER EASTERN HONDURAS...

AT 10 AM EST...1500 UTC...THE GOVERNMENT OF HONDURAS HAS
DISCONTINUED THE TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR THE COAST OF HONDURAS FROM
THE NICARAGUA/HONDURAS BORDER TO LIMON.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.

AT 1000 AM EST...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION IDA
WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 15.0 NORTH...LONGITUDE 84.0 WEST OR ABOUT
55 MILES... 85 KM...WEST OF CABO GRACIAS A DIOS ON THE
NICARAGUA/HONDURAS BORDER.

THE DEPRESSION IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH NEAR 7 MPH...11 KM/HR.
THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY...WITH A TURN
TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST EXPECTED TOMORROW.  ON THE FORECAST
TRACK...THE CENTER OF IDA SHOULD MOVE ACROSS EASTERN HONDURAS TODAY
AND EMERGE INTO THE NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA TONIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 35 MPH...55 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS.  LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST TODAY...BUT SOME
RESTRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED AFTER THE CENTER MOVES BACK OVER WATER.  

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1007 MB...29.74 INCHES.

THE RAINFALL THREAT ASSOCIATED WITH IDA IS DIMINISHING OVER EASTERN
NICARAGUA AND EASTERN HONDURAS.  IDA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES OVER EASTERN HONDURAS
WITH ISOLATED HEAVIER TOTALS OVER HIGHER TERRAIN.  THESE RAINS
COULD PRODUCE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES.
RAINFALL ASSOCIATED WITH IDEA MAY BEGIN TO AFFECT EASTERN PORTIONS
OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA ON SATURDAY.  

...SUMMARY OF 1000 AM EST INFORMATION...
LOCATION...15.0N 84.0W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...35 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NORTH OR 360 DEGREES AT 7 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1007 MB

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
400 PM EST.

Our Coldest Night of the Week

arae12 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:38:51 +0000

Tonight will be our coldest night of the week with temperatures dropping to the upper 30s over night. High pressure will be just to the north of Alabama tomorrow morning during sunrise, combined with calm winds and clear skies, this calls for a chilly night!

Any worries of frost? Not for Central Alabama, the best chance for frost will be north of Clanton.

However, this is not the coldest night of the season. We dropped down to 35 degrees back on October 19th.

Watching Tropical Storm Ida

ssnow603 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:28:33 +0000

Ida has weakened to a Tropical Storm this afternoon, but even though it is weakening now is still bears close monitoring over the next few days.

Currently, Ida is bringing winds and rain to parts of Nicaragua in Central America. Those sustained winds are currently 65 miles per hour and some further weakening is expected as the center of the storm is over land at the moment. While it is nearly stationary at this time, Ida will begin to move towards the north.

By Monday, it could be on its way to the Gulf of Mexico and thus bears monitoring. It will move into warm water initially in the Caribbean, where temperatures are currently in the 80s during the peak heating of the afternoon. However, the temperatures near the Alabama and Florida coastlines are in the 60s, meaning the storm would likely weaken as it moves over that cooler water.

In fact, as you can see from the projected intensity computer models above, it will likely remain a Tropical Storm or become a minimal hurricane at best. Regardless, Ida should be monitored closely into next week, especially for interests near the Gulf Coast.

Ida now a hurricane…

Josh Johnson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:21:24 +0000

HURRICANE IDA INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 4A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL112009
700 AM EST THU NOV 05 2009

…IDA BECOMES A HURRICANE AS IT NEARS THE COAST OF NICARAGUA…

SATELLITE IMAGES INDICATE THAT IDA HAS STRENGTHENED TO A
HURRICANE.

AT 700 AM…1200 UTC…THE GOVERNMENT OF NICARAGUA HAS ISSUED A
HURRICANE WARNING FOR THE EAST COAST OF NICARAGUA FROM BLUEFIELDS
NORTHWARD TO PUERTO CABEZAS. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED
SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS.

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE EASTERN COAST OF
NICARAGUA FROM NORTH OF PUERTO CABEZAS TO THE HONDURAS/NICARAGUA
BORDER. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE NICARAGUA/COSTA
RICA BORDER NORTHWARD TO BLUEFIELDS AND FROM NORTH OF PUERTO
CABEZAS TO THE HONDURAS/NICARAGUA BORDER. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING
MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN
THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS
ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.

AT 700 AM EST…1200 UTC…THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IDA WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 12.8 NORTH…LONGITUDE 83.4 WEST OR ABOUT 60
MILES…100 KM…NORTH-NORTHEAST OF BLUEFIELDS NICARAGUA AND ABOUT
85 MILES…135 KM…SOUTH OF PUERTO CABEZAS NICARAGUA.

IDA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 7 MPH…11 KM/HR…AND A
GRADUAL TURN TO THE NORTH-NORTHWEST WITH A SLIGHT DECREASE IN
FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. ON THE
FORECAST TRACK…IDA WILL MAKE LANDFALL ALONG THE EASTERN COAST OF
NICARAGUA THIS MORNING AND MOVE ACROSS PORTIONS OF EASTERN
NICARAGUA AND EASTERN HONDURAS DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 75 MPH…120 KM/HR…WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. IDA IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
HURRICANE SCALE. WEAKENING IS EXPECTED AS IDA MOVES INLAND OVER
NICARAGUA TODAY.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 50 MILES…85 KM
FROM THE CENTER.

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 987 MB…29.15 INCHES.

IDA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 5 TO 7
INCHES OVER THE ISLANDS OFF THE COAST OF NICARAGUA WITH MAXIMUM
AMOUNTS OF 12 INCHES POSSIBLE. RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 15 TO 20
INCHES ARE EXPECTED OVER EASTERN NICARAGUA AND EASTERN HONDURAS
WITH MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 25 INCHES POSSIBLE. THESE RAINS COULD
PRODUCE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOOD AND MUD SLIDES.

A STORM SURGE COULD RAISE WATER LEVELS BY AS MUCH AS 3 FEET ABOVE
GROUND LEVEL ALONG THE EAST COAST OF NICARAGUA…WITH LARGE AND
DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES…NEAR AND TO THE NORTH OF WHERE THE
CENTER OF IDA MAKES LANDFALL. WATER LEVELS SHOULD BEGIN TO SUBSIDE
LATER TODAY.

…SUMMARY OF 700 AM EST INFORMATION…
LOCATION…12.8N 83.4W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…75 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NORTHWEST OR 310 DEGREES AT 7 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…987 MB

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
1000 AM EST.

$$
FORECASTER BRENNAN/BROWN/BLAKE

Ida is Here!

ssnow603 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:05:29 +0000

Tropical Depression 11 is now Tropical Storm Ida. Here’s the latest from the National Hurricane Center:

…THE NINTH TROPICAL STORM OF THE SEASON FORMS…HEADED TOWARD
NICARAGUA….

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE EASTERN
COAST OF NICARAGUA AND FOR THE ISLANDS OF SAN ANDRES AND
PROVIDENCIA.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 24 HOURS.

AT 400 PM EST…2100 UTC…THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM IDA WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 12.0 NORTH…LONGITUDE 82.7 WEST OR ABOUT 75
MILES…120 KM…WEST-SOUTHWEST OF SAN ANDRES ISLAND AND ABOUT 75
MILES…120 KM…EAST OF BLUEFIELDS NICARAGUA.

IDA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 6 MPH…9 KM/HR. A
TURN TOWARD THE NORTHWEST AND A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS
EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK…IDA
SHOULD MAKE LANDFALL ALONG THE EAST COAST OF NICARAGUA OVERNIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 60 MPH…95 KM/HR…
WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME FURTHER INTENSIFICATION OF THIS SYSTEM IS
POSSIBLE BEFORE LANDFALL.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 45 MILES…75 KM
FROM THE CENTER.

THE LATEST CENTRAL PRESSURE MEASURED BY AN AIR FORCE RECONNAISSANCE
PLANE IS 996 MB…29.41 INCHES.