Hurricane Ida rapidly intensifies into dangerous Category 4

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By KEVIN MCGILL and JAY REEVES

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Hurricane Ida was rapidly intensifying early Sunday, becoming a dangerous Category 4 hurricane on track for a potentially devastating landfall on the Louisiana coast while emergency officials in the region grappled with opening shelters for displaced evacuees despite the risks of spreading the coronavirus.

Ida quickly gained strength as it moved into the northern Gulf, going from top winds of 115 mph (185 kph) in a 1 a.m. update to 145 mph (230 kph) a few hours later. The system was expected to make landfall Sunday afternoon, set to arrive on the exact date Hurricane Katrina ravaged Louisiana and Mississippi 16 years earlier.

The storm was centered about 65 miles (100 kilometers) south of the mouth of the Mississippi River, and 80 miles (130 kilometers) south-southeast of costal Grand Isle, Louisiana. It was traveling northwest at 15 mph (24 kph).

Ida threatened a region already reeling from a resurgence of COVID-19 infections, thanks to low vaccination rates and the highly contagious delta variant.



In preparation of Hurricane Ida, a worker attaches protective plywood to windows and doors of a business in the French Quarter in New Orleans, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/business-health-environment-and-nature-louisiana-coronavirus-pandemic-115ff1a54e18d9eee61a81afa8df9fad

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That is one of 15 photos at link.

[Justice matters.]

1. Yikes! OUCH :(

Everyone in its path: Stay safe, and check in as soon as you can!

[Cheezoholic]

2. Recent pass through the center is showing pressures below 930mb's

Waiting for an official VDM (Vortex Data Message) but intial readings are as low as 928mb's. Thats just nut crazy low for a storm in the GOM. Some of the readings from the current flight started to show a potential second eyewall forming but that looks to have collapsed which means continued intensification. There was some hope for a bit that concentric eyewalls would form but thats out the window now. Dont think it matters now as close as the storm is to landfall. Probably 6 more hours of potential intensification. When the pressure drops it usually takes an hour or 2 for the winds to catch up at the surface. Its the ice skater pulling in her arms to spin faster trick. Even if winds stay around 130 sustained over land with gusts to 160 the potential lowest pressure of this storm will be record setting.
Gusts of 115 recorded 10 meters above sea level with 100 sustained at the station at SW Pass in the last 15 min.
Last official VDM they are keeping it at 932mb's

Product: Air Force Vortex Message (URNT12 KNHC)
Transmitted: 29th day of the month at 12:51Z
Agency: United States Air Force
Aircraft: Lockheed WC-130J Hercules with reg. number AF97-5305
Storm Name: Ida
Storm Number & Year: 09 in 2021 (flight in the North Atlantic basin)
Mission Number: 14
Observation Number: 15

A. Time of Center Fix: 29th day of the month at 12:23:40Z
B. Center Fix Coordinates: 28.52N 89.70W
B. Center Fix Location: 103 statute miles (165 km) to the SSE (168°) from New Orleans, LA, USA.
C. Minimum Height at Standard Level: 2,512m (8,241ft) at 700mb
D. Minimum Sea Level Pressure: 932mb (27.53 inHg)
E. Dropsonde Surface Wind at Center: From 255° at 20kts (From the WSW at 23mph)
F. Eye Character: Closed
G. Eye Shape & Diameter: Circular with a diameter of 16 nautical miles (18 statute miles)
H. Estimated (by SFMR or visually) Maximum Surface Wind Inbound: 112kts (128.9mph)
I. Location & Time of the Estimated Maximum Surface Wind Inbound: 7 nautical miles to the NNW (330°) of center fix at 12:21:00Z
J. Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: From 48° at 125kts (From the NE at 143.8mph)
K. Location & Time of the Maximum Flight Level Wind Inbound: 9 nautical miles to the NNW (327°) of center fix at 12:20:30Z
L. Estimated (by SFMR or visually) Maximum Surface Wind Outbound: 112kts (128.9mph)
M. Location & Time of the Estimated Maximum Surface Wind Outbound: 5 nautical miles to the SSE (148°) of center fix at 12:25:00Z
N. Maximum Flight Level Wind Outbound: From 236° at 127kts (From between the SW and WSW at 146.1mph)
O. Location & Time of the Maximum Flight Level Wind Outbound: 11 nautical miles (13 statute miles) to the SE (139°) of center fix at 12:26:30Z
P. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Outside Eye: 14°C (57°F) at a pressure alt. of 3,051m (10,010ft)
Q. Maximum Flight Level Temp & Pressure Altitude Inside Eye: 21°C (70°F) at a pressure alt. of 3,054m (10,020ft)
R. Dewpoint Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): 5°C (41°F)
R. Sea Surface Temp (collected at same location as temp inside eye): Not Available
S. Fix Determined By: Penetration, Radar, Wind, Pressure and Temperature
S. Fix Level: 700mb
T. Navigational Fix Accuracy: 0.02 nautical miles
T. Meteorological Accuracy: 1 nautical mile

[GusBob]

4. That's great information

I have never seen that type before
Where is it from

[Cheezoholic]

5. You can get them from the NHC site here

At this link. Select Vortex Data Message it will give you the latest drop in the center of a storm over water.

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/recon.php

You can also get them at these sites. A little more explained and archive easier to access

https://www.tropicaltidbits.com/recon/

This site also has a google earth KML file you can download to follow recon. (I helped design it )

http://tropicalatlantic.com/recon/

[yaesu]

3. NHC just issued a rare eyewall wind warning for communities that the eye will pass over

expect 150+ mph winds, not sure how far inland the warning goes, also, bar dropped further to 928.