Hurricane Ida

Hurricane Ida is expected to gather strength and possibly make landfall on Sunday about 1:00 pm as approximately a Category 4 storm with 140 mph winds possible. Of course the definitive details depend on the dynamics affecting storm development, but it's going to be a serious major hurricane.
The effect on the Gulf Shores area will be high winds, storm surge (possibly destructive wave activity) thunderstorms/heavy rains, etc. Here, we are expecting "Tropical Storm" activity, given that landfall is expected to happen right around New Orleans approximately.

This is for our out-of-town friends who don't get the local weather forecasts for the Alabama Gulf Coast. While we hope for the best, near-hits usually bring some damage to the area. And of course our concern is for our neighbors to the west who are going to have to deal with a direct hit of a (more than likely) major hurricane.
https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net...85&oe=61505745

Yes sir. Having been a Gulf coast resident (including Gulf Shores) three different times in my life, I still keep up very closely with the forecasts. Praying for all my friends on the coast. Stay safe everyone!

Everyone in the track of Ida or a possible shift in her track will be in my prayers. Ch 6 from B'ham gives very good forecasts of bad weather heading to our Gulf Coast. Be safe all. Just heard that Ida COULD become a cat 5 by landfall.

Exactly why I don't watch or listen to TV/radio weather casters about major weather events like this!
But get information directly from the source, the National Hurricane Center.
Their current max prediction is for "Ida" to reach about 120 mph before landfall.
The 'discussion' updated every 6 hours is THE most comprehensive, concise report on these storms without hype or speculation...
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refres.../280859.shtml?

Quote:

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Ida is expected to remain in a favorable environment of light
vertical shear and very warm sea-surface temperatures until it
makes landfall. The only negative factor is the possibility that
dry air may try to entrain into the system and slow the expected
intensification. The SHIPS and LGEM models are showing a little
less strengthening than previously. However, the HWRF and HMON
models continue to forecast Ida to reach Category 4 intensity
before landfall. The new intensity forecast will forecast a peak
intensity of 120 kt in best agreement with the HWRF and HMON, and
the pre-landfall part of the forecast is little changed from the previous forecast.

---

Take care. I have been thru three of them including the famous Camille. All are serious.

https://youtu.be/75X4bWf5fIs

https://nrlmry.navy.mil/htdocs_dyn_pregen_sat/PUBLIC/tc_pages/pages/tc21/ATL/09L.IDA/ssmi/gif/full/Latest.html

US Navy's Predicted Path

https://i.imgur.com/HpPKb20.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/lGxvgSW.jpg

At 6 am Sunday morning hurricane “Ida” was centered about 150 miles southwest of the GSPPier...
https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...fa&oe=61512997



As the NWS predicted, overnight near tropical storm force winds have pushed the water level up 3 to 5 feet along the coast...
https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...ff&oe=61526EB9

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...69&oe=6152C5E0

While after midnight, waves increased to the 15 foot range...
https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...c8&oe=615126CD


Conditions such as these have historically caused floor panels to become dislodged and moderate damage to the pier.
We will have to see how long this continues, and how bad it is.
It seems the past few hours that the pier has been taking some of the worst “Ida” will be dealing to it.
Milton Rittelmeyer reported he is currently at the pier (which is closed), but we should have more later...