10am Update on Tropical Storm Ida

At 10 am est... all hurricane warnings and watches along the gulf coast have been discontinued. A tropical storm warning is now in effect from Grand Isle Louisiana eastward to the Aucilla River Florida... including New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.

At 1000 am est... the center of tropical storm Ida was located near latitude 26.5 north... longitude 88.3 west or about 185 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River and about 285 miles south-southwest of Pensacola Florida.

Ida is moving toward the north-northwest near 17 mph. A turn toward the north and then to the north-northeast is expected over the next 24 hours. On the forecast track... the center of Ida is expected to make landfall along the northern gulf coast tuesday morning. After landfall... a turn to the east is expected on
Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds continue to decrease and are now near 70 mph... with higher gusts. Some additional weakening is expected today as Ida approaches the coast.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 996 mb... 29.41 inches.

Rains from Ida will be reaching the coast over portions of the warning area within the next hour or so. Total storm accumulations of 3 to 6 inches... with isolated maximum storm totals of 8 inches... are possible through Wednesday morning from the central and eastern gulf coast northward into the eastern portions of the
Tennessee Valley... the southern Appalachians... and the southeastern United States.

A dangerous storm tide will raise water levels by as much as 3 to 5 feet above ground level along the coast near and to the east of where the center makes landfall. Near the coast... the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

An intermediate advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 100 pm est followed by the next complete advisory at 400
pm est.