Tropical Storm Ida 4pm Update

At 4:00 pm est the center of Tropical Storm Ida was located near latitude 18.9 north…longitude 84.3 west or about 200 miles…325 km…east-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico and about 195 miles…320 km…south of the western tip of Cuba.
Ida is moving toward the north near 10 mph. A turn toward the north-northwest with a gradual increase in forward speed is expected during the next day or so. On the forecast track…Ida is expected to move through the Yucatan Channel on Sunday and into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico Sunday night.

Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph…110 km/hr…with higher gusts.  Ida is expected to become a hurricane tonight or Sunday…but weakening is forecast after it enters the Gulf of Mexico.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles…220 km from the center.
Estimated minimum central pressure is 990 mb…29.23 inches of mercury.

A hurricane watch remains in effect for the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Tulum to Cabo Catoche.  A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area…generally within 36 hours.
A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Grand Cayman Island.
A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Punta Allen northward to San Felipe.  A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area…generally within 24 hours.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Cuban province of Pinar del Rio.  Hurricane force winds could spread across portions of western Cuba on Sunday and a hurricane warning may be required for this area later tonight.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for the Isle of Youth.

Ida is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 3 to 5 inches over portions of the Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba…with possible isolated maximum amounts of 10 inches.  Rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are also possible across the Cayman Islands.

An intermediate advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 7:00 pm est followed by the next complete advisory at 10:00 pm est.

You can also track this storm with our Interactive Hurricane Tracker.