Ida Reaches Hurricane Strength, Headed for Gulf of Mexico
11/7/2009 2:51 PM
As expected, Ida has strengthened rapidly Saturday, regaining tropical storm strength early in the
morning and nearing hurricane strength early in the afternoon. Ida will pass
By Heather
Buchman
AccuWeather.com
As expected, Ida has strengthened
rapidly Saturday, regaining hurricane strength by 11 p.m. EDT. Ida will pass between Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico Sunday, likely as a
Category 1 hurricane.
Residents along the Gulf coast of the U.S. should monitor Ida's progress. At the very least, she could bring
flooding rain and rough surf to the region by the middle of next week.
Ida's Impacts this Weekend
Ida's rapid strengthening this weekend has been due to her position over warm waters of the northwestern Caribbean and the lack of wind shear in this
area.
She will batter the northeastern portion of the Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba with
flooding rain and tropical storm-force winds tonight into Sunday. Winds could
even reach hurricane force near or along the coast.
Cancun, Mexico, a major tourist destination located along the eastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, is one of these areas that could be affected by
flooding and wind damage. Disruptions to shipping and cruise vacations are other impacts.
Ida's Threat to the U.S. Next Week
Ida is expected to maintain hurricane strength as she emerges into the southern Gulf of Mexico by early Monday morning. By Tuesday or Wednesday,
however, the storm will likely weaken as it encounters stronger wind shear upon heading farther north through the Gulf of Mexico.
The most likely scenario with Ida's track will be one that slows the storm down and steers it northward Monday into Tuesday then northeastward or
eastward by Wednesday. This scenario puts residents of the eastern
Gulf
Coast and Florida at risk.
The other scenario involves the storm keeping a faster pace and continuing on a northward track into the central
Gulf Coast of the U.S. around midweek.
Regardless of Ida's strength,
flooding downpours and rough surf will likely impact
some areas along the central and/or eastern
Gulf Coast. Wind damage and a
storm surge could also come into play if Ida remains a strong enough tropical system.
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