10 AM Update: Hurricane Ida rapidly intensifying in Gulf of Mexico

Ida is in the southern Gulf of Mexico and is expected to rapidly intensify Saturday and into Sunday.

The National Hurricane Center forecasts the storm making landfall in southeast Louisiana Sunday evening as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 130 mph. There is always advised to plan for a category higher as there is always uncertainty with a tropical system intensity.

Regardless of that uncertainty, we need to be prepared for a potentially rapidly intensifying storm in the Gulf of Mexico. The waters are deep and warm and wind shear will relax over the Gulf. That, combined with a decent outflow will allow for the storm to grow in the atmosphere. All of this could lead to a major hurricane by landfall.

Wind, rain, and storm surge will all be threats. We are expecting conditions to worsen late Saturday and throughout Sunday into Monday morning. Prepare now.

Forecast: https://www.wwltv.com/article/weather/hurricane/tropical-storm-hurricane-ida-live-latest-forecast-louisiana-landfall/289-d6ad8577-b2f5-4f2d-9d5e-82e082105b89