Hurricane Ida strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale on Saturday. At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Ida was located at latitude 25.6°N and longitude 86.6°W which put it about 380 miles (610 km) southeast of Houma, Louisiana. Ida was moving toward the northwest at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 976 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Intracoastal City, Louisiana to the Mouth of the Pearl River. The Hurricane Warning included New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas. Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for the portions of the coast from Cameron, Louisiana to Intracoastal City and from the Mouth of the Pearl River to the Alabama/Florida Line.

Hurricane Ida strengthened Saturday over the Gulf of Mexico. A circular eye with a diameter of 28 miles (44 km) was visible on satellite images. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Ida. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. Winds to hurricane force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Ida. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 130 miles (210 km) from the center of circulation.

Hurricane Ida will move through an environment that will be very favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Hurricane Ida will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30˚C.  It will move under an upper level ridge over the Gulf of Mexico.  The winds will be weak in the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Hurricane Ida will strengthen and it is likely to undergo a period of rapid intensification that will cause it to strengthen to a major hurricane.  Ida could reach Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Hurricane Ida could pull some slightly drier air over the southeastern U.S. into its circulation when it nears the coast. If that happens, Ida will stop intensifying and it could weaken slightly just before it makes landfall.

Hurricane Ida will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system that extends from the Atlantic Ocean to the eastern Gulf of Mexico.  The high will steer Ida toward the northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track Hurricane Ida is likely to approach the coast of southeast Louisiana as a major hurricane by the middle of the day on Sunday.  Ida will be capable of causing major damage when it approaches the coast. I t could cause a storm surge of up to 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 meters). A Storm Surge Warning has been issued for the coast from west of Vermillion Bay to the Mississippi/Alabama border. The Storm Surge Warning includes Vermilion Bay, Lake Borgne, Lake Pontchartrain, and Lake Maurepas. Hurricane Ida could move more slowly when it nears the coast on Sunday. That could prolong the duration of strong winds. Widespread power outages could occur in southeast Louisiana. Ida will also drop heavy rain over parts of eastern Louisiana and Mississippi. Flash floods could occur in that region. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations have been announced for parts of southeastern Louisiana.

Hurricane Ida probably will not be as strong or as large as Hurricane Laura was last year.  Ida could be a little bigger and a little stronger than Hurricane Delta was when it approached Louisiana in 2020. Ida is likely to be bigger and strong than Hurricane Zeta was when Zeta hit the same part of Louisiana in 2020.