Hurricane Ida Becomes “Extremely Dangerous” Hurricane As US Approaches

Ida became a hurricane on Friday afternoon and briefly made landfall on Isla de la Youth, Cuba, before returning to the sea, showing the characteristics of a rare, fast-growing storm that could sweep the Gulf of Mexico and hit Louisiana like a hurricane on Sunday, the US National Hurricane Center warned.

“The planned path is heading straight for New Orleans. It’s not goodSaid Jim Kossin, climate and hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center (NOAA).

Hurricane Ida category one it touched the island of Juventud in the early afternoon and before heading north-west towards the sea towards the Cuban province of Pinar del Río.

On the Isle of Youth, there was heavy showers, inflated and winds with falling trees, but no deaths. Electricity was cut in the area for protection.

Although Ida hits a predominantly rural area in western Cuba, its gusts, showers and swells put the authorities and the population on alert.

“It’s a system that shows its intensity”Cuban meteorologist Aylin Justiz told TV news and pointed out that the waves can reach four meters in height.

The Cuban Civil Defense (DCC) decreed a cyclone alarm for the provinces of Mayabeque, Havana, Artemisa, Pinar del Río and Isla de la Juventud from Friday morning.

Authorities in Pinar del Río, where tobacco is produced, said they had protected 35,000 tonnes of leaves. In addition, 22,000 head of cattle were moved to the highlands.

Meanwhile, in the fishing village of La Coloma, which is on Ida’s planned route, some 62 boats were sheltered.

Greater danger will occur on the Gulf, where the forecast coincides Ida will return to the sea on Saturday morning northwest and strengthen into a major hurricane before making landfall in the Mississippi River Delta region late Sunday or early Monday, according to experts.

A report from NOAA from Florida placed Ida on Friday afternoon at 70 kilometers northwest of the Isle of Youth already 145 kilometers southwest of Havana with sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour and a driving speed of 24 kilometers per hour.

Ida’s maximum sustained winds on Friday morning increased rapidly by 75 km / h (45 mph) to 95 km / h (60 mph) on the way out of Grand Cayman towards Cuba.

“Unfortunately, the entire Louisiana coast is currently within the forecast cone of Tropical Storm Ida, which is strengthening and could hit the Louisiana coast as a major hurricane.as conditions in the Gulf are conducive to a rapid intensification, ”said State Governor John Bel Edwards. “By Saturday night, everyone should be where they intend to weather the storm,” he added.

A hurricane watch was issued ranging from Cameron, Louisiana, to the border between Mississippi and Alabama, including Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and the New Orleans metropolitan area.

The hurricane could cause dangerous storm surge on the Gulf Coast. Depending on the tide as it approaches the Ida shore, storm surges of between 2.1 and 3.4 meters (7 to 11 feet) are expected between Morgan City, Louisiana, and Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

The mayor of Grand Isle, a town in Louisiana on a narrow Gulf island, asked the voluntary evacuation from the region Thursday evening before the meteor arrived and said the mandatory departure would go into effect on Friday. Forecasters warned of possible flash floods, mudslides and storm surges between 60 and 120 centimeters (2 to 4 feet) above normal, as well as “large and destructive waves.”

The government of Cayman Islands He said non-essential government offices closed on Thursday and set up several shelters.

(With AP information)

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