Major hurricane could hit US Gulf Coast this weekend

After Ida crosses western Cuba Friday night, the National Hurricane Center expects it to rapidly intensify into a hurricane Saturday. Extremely warm waters, along with weak wind shear, will provide a favorable environment for Ida to become stronger and better organized as it approaches the U.S.

By early Sunday afternoon, just prior to landfall, Ida could reach major Category 3 hurricane status, with sustained winds of 111 to 129 mph. This would eerily coincide with the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s devastating landfall in Louisiana.

Based on the NHC’s latest forecast, landfall will occur somewhere on the Louisiana coast, possibly in New Orleans. However, the margin of error shows landfall could occur as far west as the Louisiana-Texas line, or in southern Mississippi.

The NHC has issued a hurricane watch for Cameron, Louisiana, to the Mississippi-Alabama border, as well as the Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas and metropolitan New Orleans areas.

A tropical storm watch is in effect from the Mississippi-Alabama border to the Alabama-Florida border. A storm surge watch is in place from Sabine Pass, Texas, to the Alabama-Florida border, in addition to the Vermilion Bay, Lake Borgne, Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas and Mobile Bay areas.

These watches should be taken seriously and will probably be upgraded to warnings as Ida progresses toward landfall.

As of early Friday morning, all Gulf Coast ports were open, with only light restrictions on commercial vessels in a few places. However, the Coast Guard may tighten restrictions over the weekend.

Tropical storm conditions will begin Saturday evening from southern Louisiana to western Florida, with winds, storm surge and rainfall strengthening Saturday night and Sunday prior to landfall. The initial forecast has the biggest storm surge of 7 to 11 feet slamming areas from Morgan City, Louisiana, to Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Some areas of the Gulf Coast could receive 10 inches or more of rainfall. Life-threatening flooding is likely.

Lanes of concern

Interstate 10 from Beaumont, Texas, to Pensacola, Florida
Interstate 59 from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to New Orleans
Interstate 65 from Montgomery to Mobile, Alabama
Interstate 55 from Jackson, Mississippi, to New Orleans

Related: Logistics groups ready to help during potentially busy hurricane season

This is a developing story, so look for updates on the FreightWaves website and social media accounts.

Click here for more FreightWaves articles by Nick Austin.

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