Tropical Storm Ida nears Louisiana, prompting governor's emergency declaration

Officials warned residents in areas that are forecast to be impacted by Tropical Storm Ida that they have two days to prepare for the strengthening storm. 

On Friday morning, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that Ida was located over the west-central Caribbean Sea around 75 miles north-northwest of Grand Cayman, moving toward the northwest near 15 mph. 

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At 8 a.m. ET, the tropical storm had maximum sustained winds near 60 mph and tropical-storm-force winds extended outward up to 80 miles from its center. 

Ida is projected to shift away from the Cayman Islands on Friday morning, pass by or over the Isle of Youth and western Cuba later in the day and reach the southeastern and central Gulf of Mexico on Friday night and through Saturday. 

The storm was anticipated to reach the U.S. northern Gulf Coast on Sunday – but at or near major hurricane strength.

Ida, which formed in the Caribbean on Thursday, could hit Louisiana as a Category 3 hurricane and the Hurricane Center said that hurricane conditions are possible in watch areas along the northern Gulf Coast late Saturday night or Sunday.

A Tropical Storm Watch was also in effect from the Mississippi and Alabama border to the Alabama and Florida state line. 

The NHC also issued a Storm Surge Watch from the Alabama-Florida state line to Sabine Pass, as well as Vermilion Bay, Lake Borgne, Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas and Mobile Bay.

Dangerous storm surge combined with the tide is likely to cause normally dry coastal areas to be flooded and Ida is predicted to produce total rainfall accumulations of 8 to 16 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches from southeast Louisiana to coastal Mississippi and Alabama through Monday.

Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are possible later Monday across southern and central Mississippi – with the potential for considerable flash, urban, small stream and riverine flooding – as Ida turns northeast and moves inland. 

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"The forecast track has it headed straight towards New Orleans. Not good," Jim Kossin, a senior scientist with The Climate Service, noted.

Louisiana Gov. Jon Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency Thursday in anticipation of Ida, the governor’s office confirmed in a release.  

"Unfortunately, all of Louisiana’s coastline is currently in the forecast cone for Tropical Storm Ida, which is strengthening and could come ashore in Louisiana as a major hurricane as Gulf conditions are conducive for rapid intensification," the governor said in a statement. "Now is the time for people to finalize their emergency game plan, which should take into account the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic."

The state of emergency declaration authorizes the use of state resources for storm response efforts. 

"This type of threat contains additional problems because the window to prepare is so short," Edwards continued, adding that residents should be where they "intend to ride out the storm" by Saturday night. 

The Emergency Operations Center at the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) is monitoring the storm and coordinating with FEMA and local parish emergency preparedness offices, the release said. 

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"Right now we know conditions are primed for this system to strengthen," GOHSEP Director Jim Waskom said in a statement. "We also know the reality of this impact all too well.  That means we all must remain aware of the potential of this severe weather threat, finalize your emergency plans and be ready to adjust those plans due any changes in the forecast or due to potential weather alerts being issued."

Edwards warned major power outages could occur. 

"The people of Louisiana have been tested time and time again, and while it is my hope and prayer that this storm will not bring destruction to our state, we should be prepared to take the brunt of the severe weather," he said. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.