The National Hurricane Center now says Tropical Storm Ida will be a category three hurricane before slamming into Louisiana Sunday into Monday.
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Forecasters say the system is getting more organized and will have winds of 115 miles per hour when the eye comes ashore near Houma, Louisiana on a path near Baton Rouge.
That puts New Orleans on the worst side of a landfalling major hurricane.
"Ida is becoming better organized just to the north of Grand Cayman," the Hurricane Center said. "Ida will make landfall in Louisiana late Sunday or early Monday."
Forecast models are in good agreement on the track, but some call for Ida to be even stronger when it roars ashore.
"Some decrease in the shear is expected during the next 24 h, and that, combined with a moist environment and warm sea surface temperatures along the forecast track, should allow steady to rapid strengthening until the cyclone makes landfall."
The new intensity forecast is stronger than the previous forecast, and it now calls for Ida to reach a peak intensity of 115mph before landfall.
Key Messages:
There is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge inundation along the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, where a Storm Surge Watch is in effect. Interests in these areas should follow any advice given by local officials.
There is an increasing risk of dangerous hurricane-force winds beginning Sunday along the portions of the coasts of Louisiana and Mississippi, including metropolitan New Orleans, where a Hurricane Watch is in effect.
Ida is also expected to produce heavy rains across the central Gulf Coast from southeast Louisiana to coastal Mississippi, Alabama, as well as the Lower Mississippi Valley starting Sunday into Monday, resulting in considerable flash, urban, small stream, and riverine flooding.
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