Hurricane Ida live updates: Storm gains strength with 150 mph winds

(NEW ORLEANS) — Ida, which became a Category 1 hurricane Friday afternoon, is forecast to strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph winds before landfall in Louisiana late Sunday.

The latest forecast track has Ida coming ashore in southeast Louisiana on Sunday late afternoon/early evening.

Ida will be a tropical storm nearing the border of Mississippi by Monday morning.

The storm is forecast to land the same day 16 years ago that Hurricane Katrina, a Category 3 storm, ravaged the Gulf Coast. Katrinia unleashed a series of events, taking the lives of more than 1,800 people and leaving more than $100 billion worth of damage in its wake.

Aug 29, 8:36 am

Ida may become strongest hurricane for wind speed in Louisiana history

With 155 mph winds expected at landfall, Ida is now forecast to surpass Hurricane Laura in 2020, and Last Island Hurricane in 1856 — which broke state records. Simply put, Ida may become the strongest hurricane by wind speed to hit Louisiana.

Aug 29, 8:23 am

Ida to make landfall with 155 mph winds in just a few hours: NHC

The National Hurricane Center forecasts that Ida will make landfall in a just a few hours, reaching wind speeds of up to 155 mph.

That wind speed would make Ida just 1 mph short of becoming a Category 5 storm.

Aug 29, 8:09 am

Hurricane-force winds hit southern Louisiana

Major Hurricane Ida is a high-end Category 4 hurricane with 150 mph and hurricane-force winds are hitting the coast of southern Louisiana now.

Hurricane Ida has winds of 150 mph and is about 50 miles southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River. The storm is moving northwest at 15 mph. The current pressure is 933 mb.

At 8 p.m. Saturday night, Hurricane Ida was a Category 2 hurricane with 105 mph winds. The pressure was 969 mb. Ida has dropped 36 mb in 12 hours.

Aug 29, 7:46 am

Tornadoes possible as Ida makes landfall

A new tornado watch has been issued from New Orleans to Pensacola, Florida. A few tornadoes will be possible as Ida comes ashore.

This tornado watch will go until 7 p.m. CDT.

Aug 29, 7:04 am

Winds now at 150 mph

Hurricane Ida has strengthened once again with winds now 150 mph.  Wind gusts of 93 mph are being reported in southeast Louisiana.

Ida is now 60 Miles south-sothwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Ida is moving northwest at 15 MPH.

Aug 29, 6:51 am

Hurricane Ida winds now at 145 mph, storm still intensifying

Hurricane Ida has strengthened with winds now at 145 mph and is a Category 4 major hurricane. Wind gusts of 74 mph are being reported on the extreme southern edge of Louisiana.

Ida is now 65 miles from the mouth of the Mississippi River and 80 miles south-southeast of Grand Isle, Louisiana. The storm is moving northwest at 15 mph.

Hurricane Ida now is expected to bring up to 16 feet of storm surge to the southern Louisiana Coast

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