The National Hurricane Center has issued a Hurricane Watch Louisiana and Mississippi.
"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."
Forecasters say Ida is expected to make landfall as a hurricane Sunday into Monday near Houma, Louisiana.
Wind driven water is a threat too.
"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."
There could also be flooding.
"Ida is likely to produce heavy rainfall Sunday into Monday along the central Gulf coast resulting in flash, urban, small stream, and riverine flooding. Heavy rainfall and flooding impacts are likely along the central Gulf Coast Sunday into Monday."
The Hurricane Center, however, notes that errors in the forecast track are common three days before landfall.
"The average 72-hour track error is around 120 miles," the center's forecast discussion notes. That means landfall of the eye could well be as far away as Mississippi or Southwest Louisiana.