#16,147
Yesterday, in The Tropics Heat Up As We Approach September, I mentioned that there was a disturbed area in the Caribbean with the potential to threaten the northern Gulf of Mexico late this weekend or early next week, and that those living there ought to use this weekend to finish up their hurricane preps.
Not surprisingly at 11am, the National Hurricane Center upgraded the disturbance to a tropical depression, and forecast it to strengthen into a hurricane on Saturday after it crosses the western tip of Cuba.
While the exact path, and future intensity, of what should be named Ida is subject to change, right now the NHC anticipates it may be threatening the northern Gulf coast by Sunday or Monday, potentially as a major hurricane. We'll know a lot more about where it is likely to go over the next 36 hours.
Key messages from the NHC are:
Although intensity forecasts are particularly difficult, particular this far in advance, right now the NHC is looking at a near Cat 3 storm by Sunday night.
Residents from the upper Texas Gulf coast to the Panhandle of Florida should closely monitor this storm, and make preparations should the storm head in their direction. As always, you should follow @NHC_Atlantic on twitter, and visit the NHC for the latest updates, and of course take direction from your local Emergency Management Office.
Since we are still in a pandemic, you will need to take that into account if you need to evacuate to a shelter. This advice from Ready.gov.
If you must go to a community or group shelter remember to follow the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for protecting yourself and family from COVID-19. Be sure to review your previous evacuation plan and consider alternative options to maintain physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and update your plan accordingly.
If you must evacuate, if possible, bring with you items that can help protect you and others in the shelter from COVID-19, such as hand sanitizer, cleaning materials, and two clean, well-fitted masks that have two or more layers for each person.
For more preparedness advice, my (updated for 2021) hurricane preparedness blogs include:
Hurricane Preparedness Week: Day 7 - Complete A Written Plan
