Although Ida has become a tropical storm now, its threat of flooding and tornadoes will continue spreading inland from the South to parts of the East until midweek. As Ida winds down, strong winds and storm surge flooding will continue to be a threat near the northern Gulf Coast States, a report said.
Ida caused severe damage in southeast Louisiana, including the New Orleans metropolitan area, on Sunday.
Right now, the center of Ida can be found over the lower Mississippi Valley. Winds are blowing from the west Florida Panhandle, Mississippi, and Alabama as heavy rain with gusty winds is spreading across southeast Louisiana.
Ida will likely weaken to a hurricane-like tropical depression today in Mississippi. The remnant low will track through the central Appalachians and then the mid-Atlantic later this week.
From southeast Louisiana to southwest Alabama, tropical storm warnings are still in effect. These areas will experience tropical-storm-force wind gusts Monday, which could cause additional damage and increase power outages.
Today’s storm surge will continue to raise water levels along the northern Gulf Coast.
Flooding rainfall from the South to the East will have the greatest impact on the East over the next week.
Flood watches have been placed along the Ida path from the northern Gulf Coast to the Tennessee Valley and Ohio Valley, central Appalachians, and mid-Atlantic. These areas are susceptible to flash flooding, especially if rain bands stall for a short time. Parts of the South may experience minor to major river flooding.
The following storm total precipitation amounts are forecasted by NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center.
-From the coast of Alabama to the Florida Panhandle, 6-12 inches is possible with locally up to 15 inches through Tuesday morning.
-Central Mississippi to far western Alabama: 4-8 inches with isolated totals of up to 12 inches possible Monday night.
-Middle Tennessee Valley, Ohio Valley, central Appalachians, and mid-Atlantic: 3-6 inches with some heavier totals Tuesday through Wednesday.
With inland tropical cyclones, isolated tornadoes can be a problem.
From the northern Gulf Coast to southern-central Tennessee, and western Georgia, there is the potential for some tornadoes Monday.
A few tornadoes could be seen in areas from the Florida Panhandle to Georgia, and the southern Appalachians on Tuesday.
A few tornadoes may strike the mid-Atlantic on Wednesday, the report added.
