With Hurricane Ida, the worst is over. The hurricane has quickly intensified to a Category 4 storm and is now on its way to Grand Isle, Louisiana.
Advertisement
Ida has been strengthening over Saturday, with 150 mph (241 km/h) winds approaching the coast. Already, the National Hurricane Center has received reports of sustained winds of 102mph (165 km/h), which is equivalent to Category 2 winds. There are also 6 feet (2m) of storm surge hitting Louisiana. Things will worsen from here as Ida arrives onshore with strong winds, crushing surge and torrential rainfall. After last year's Laura and Delta, this will be the third major hurricane that strikes Louisiana.
Ida comes at a time when the state is undergoing its worst covid-19 wave ever since the pandemic started. There are also a host other background conditions that will make it even more difficult to recover from Ida. This is the era of crisis conglomeration as referred to by climate justice essayists.
Idas Winds Are in Dangerous Company...
While the winds are what is rightfully grabbing attention, they are not the only threat. According to Philip Klotzbach, hurricane expert, Ida could be the fourth-strongest storm in terms of windspeed to make landfall in the U.S. This is a small comfort though, as the storms that hit Idas company are among the most destructive to the country.
Two of the most recent hurricanes are Michael and Andrew, multibillion-dollar storms that decimated coastal communities in Florida in 2019 and 1992. It tied last year's Hurricane Laura for the title of strongest storm to hit Louisiana. The Idas pressure at landing was 930 millibars. This is just 10 millibars lower than Katrina's landfall record. The storm is stronger if the pressure is lower than it was before. Although Ida is not at Katrina's level, 930 milbars is still an incredibly low pressure sign that the storm can cause severe damage. This will almost certainly lead to a disaster of billions of dollars.
... Ida's biggest concern will be water
While the wind is important, the most severe damage to Ida's storm surge will be done by the water. Water has historically been the largest source of hurricane destruction. It's about how much Ida pushes onto the shore and how much it drops from the sky.
Advertisement
The storm surge could reach 16ft (5m) along large sections of the coast, from Port Fourchon, a petrochemical hub (which is also vulnerable to Idas eyewall damage and strong winds), to the mouth the Mississippi River. The region will be threatened by water coming through the tidal swamps and bayous, which look like Swiss cheese.
Then, there's the rain. Ida will spread clouds of rain across the region far from where it makes landfall. As it moves inland, the storm will slow down. This will mean that Idas rain bands will continue to wash across the region. Rainfalls of up to 2 feet (0.6 metres) could cause catastrophic flooding far inland.
Advertisement
New Orleans is not in the path of Idas' eyewall. This is good news, but it is still a bit worrying. It is located on the northeast side, which is the most dangerous due to how hurricanes rotate. It could still suffer serious consequences, as could the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Some parts of New Orleans could experience more than 6 feet (2m) of surge, while others could experience more than 9ft (3m) as Ida pushes water onto the shores. The levee system, which was rebuilt after Katrina, will be put to the test by the surge. Although it is designed to withstand surges, this storm will put it to the test.
Already, the city is experiencing power outages. These will spread to Louisiana and Mississippi as Ida arrives fully onshore. As well as the fact that pumps in New Orleans are failing, sewage overflows could become a problem. This increases the risk of waterborne diseases. As the storm moves onshore, Louisiana is seeing widespread curfews.
Advertisement
Updated at 1:01 p.m., 8/29/21 ET: This post has been updated to include the most recent forecast information and any new details that have emerged from the ground.
