Tropical Depression Nine is now Tropical Storm Ida. The storm is southwest of Jamaica Thursday afternoon, but will reach the Gulf Coast early next week.
Tropical Storm Ida has top sustained winds of 40 mph as it tracks to the northwest at 14 mph.
Its expected path takes it over the Cayman Islands and western Cuba, where Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect. From there, it’ll move into the Gulf of Mexico, then make landfall on the Gulf Coast.
The northern Gulf Coast is in the forecast cone with landfall probably happening Sunday night or Monday morning, but impacts will begin before then. Parts of the northern Gulf Coast will face flooding rain, dangerous storm surge and damaging winds Sunday and Monday.
At this time, Ida is just as likely to make landfall on the upper Texas coast as it is in Mississippi, although Louisiana has the greatest risk at this time. Its track will become clearer with time. Everyone within or near the cone should follow updates over the coming days and be ready to make preparations.
Tropical Storm Ida is forecast to become a hurricane Saturday morning as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico. It will have no shortage of warm water to help it strengthen.
Spaghetti models agree with one another on a path across western Cuba and toward Louisiana.
Spaghetti models or plots show a series of individual computer forecast models together on one map. They are useful to give insight into whether multiple models are in agreement or not on the path of the storm but they do not address the storm’s forecast intensity, winds, flooding and storm surge potential or other data. Tap here for more details on to best use these models.
Two other tropical disturbances are moving through the Atlantic. One is east of Bermuda, while the other is west of the Cabo Verde Islands. Track them here.