Tag Archives: Lake Borgne

Hurricane Ida Knocks Out Power in New Orleans

Strong winds in Hurricane Ida knocked out power to New Orleans on Sunday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Ida was located at latitude 30.7°N and longitude 90.7°W which put it about 40 miles (65 km) west-northwest of New Orleans, Louisiana. Ida was moving toward the north-northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 953 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Morgan 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 Intracoastal City to Morgan City, Louisiana and from the Mouth of the Pearl River to the Alabama/Florida Line.

There were reports Hurricane Ida had damaged transmission lines that deliver electricity to New Orleans and that power was out in all of New Orleans and Orleans parish. There were also reports of widespread power outages in other parts of southeast Louisiana. A weather station at Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans recently reported a sustained wind speed of 64 m.p.h. (104 km/h) and a wind gust of 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). Heavy rain was causing flash floods in southeastern Louisiana. Flash Flood Emergencies were in effect for Laplace and the South Shore area of Metropolitan New Orleans. Strong southeasterly winds on the eastern side of Hurricane Ida were still blowing water toward the coast. Storm surges were still occurring in southeastern Louisiana and along the coast of Mississippi. A Storm Surge Warning was in effect for the coast from Morgan City, Louisiana to to the Alabama/Florida border. The Storm Surge Warning includes Lake Borgne, Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas and Mobile Bay.

Hurricane Ida will move slowly toward the north during the next 12 hours. The center of Ida will pass east of Baton Rouge. Hurricane Ida will weaken gradually as it moves farther inland. Ida will move northeast over Mississippi on Monday. Hurricane Ida will continue to drop locally heavy rain over eastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi, during the overnight hours. Heavy rain will spread over the rest of Mississippi, western Alabama and southwestern Tennessee on Monday. Flash Flood Watches have been issued for those locations. Ida will be over Tennessee on Tuesday and it will bring rain to the Tennessee River Valley and the Ohio River Valley.

Powerful Hurricane Ida Hits Southeast Louisiana

Powerful Hurricane Ida hit southeast Louisiana on Sunday. At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Ida was located at latitude 29.2°N and longitude 90.3°W which put it about 35 miles (55 km) southeast of Houma, Louisiana. Ida was moving toward the northwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 150 m.p.h. (240 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 180 m.p.h. (290 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 930 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.

According to the National Hurricane Center the center of Hurricane Ida made landfall near Port Fourchon, Louisiana. That location was about 60 miles (95 km) south of New Orleans, about 15 miles southwest of Grand Isle, and about 45 miles southeast of Houma. Ida rapidly intensified to Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale as it approached the coast. The maximum sustained wind speed was 150 m.p.h. (240 km/h) at the time of landfall. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Ida was 31.5. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 15.3 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 46.8. Hurricane Ida was as intense as Hurricane Laura was in 2020. Ida was a little smaller than Laura was.

A weather station at Southwest Pass with an anemometer 125 feet (38 meters) above the station measured a sustained wind speed of 105 m.p.h. (169 km/h) and a wind gust of 121 m.p.h. (195 km/h). A weather station at Pilot’s Station with an anemometer 20 meters above the surface measured a sustained wind speed of 106 m.p.h. (170 km/h) and a wind gust of 128 m.p.h. (205 km/h). Southeasterly winds blowing around the eastern side of Hurricane Ida were pushing water toward the coast. Gauges at Shell Beach, Louisiana and the Waveland Mississippi Yacht Club both measured water level rises of approximately 7 feet (2 meters). Widespread power outages were reported around New Orleans.

Hurricane Ida will move slowly inland during the rest of Sunday. Ida will weaken gradually because it will be moving over a relatively flat surface that includes marshes and bayous. The center of Hurricane Ida will be near Houma, Louisiana in a few hours. Strong southeasterly winds will continue to push water toward the coast and the storm surge will continue until Hurricane Ida moves farther inland and weakens. A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Intracoastal City, Louisiana to the Alabama/Florida border. The Storm Surge Warning includes Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, Lake Borgne and Mobile Bay. Ida will pass near Baton Rouge on Sunday night. Hurricane Ida could produce hurricane force wind gusts near New Orleans and Baton Rouge. More widespread power outages could occur over southeast Louisiana. Ida will move northeast over Mississippi on Monday. It will drop locally heavy rain over eastern Louisiana, Mississippi, western Alabama and southwestern Tennessee. Flash Flood Watches have been issued for those locations.