Here Comes Ida: Possible Heavy Rain and Potential Tornado Threat in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

VERY IMPORTANT: Tropical Storm Ida is a developing situation. Please be weather aware as forecasts and tracking could change over the next few days. Be sure to remember that impacts could extend far from the center of the storm.

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Current Information from the National Hurricane Center

Tropical Storm Ida as of 5:00 AM EDT Fri Aug 27
Location: 20.0°N 81.4°W
Moving: NW at 15 mph
Min pressure: 1001 mb
Max sustained: 45 mph

Current Timeline

Ida should be over Western Cuba by Friday afternoon or evening.

Then Ida will track across the Southern and Central Gulf of Mexico this weekend.

The projected landfall is late Sunday or Early Monday in Louisiana as a category 3 hurricane.

Storm Surge Watch

There is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge inundation along the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Hurricane Watch

For the coasts of Louisiana and Mississippi, there is an increasing risk of dangerous hurricane-force winds starting on Sunday.

Heavy Rains

It is predicted that Ida will bring heavy rains Sunday into Monday across the central Gulf Coast from southeast Louisiana, Coastal Mississippi, the Lower Mississippi Valley, and Alabama. These heavy rains could propel flooding issues.

Alabama Impacts from Ida

If tracking continues in its current state, this places Alabama on the east side of the Ida. Weather-wise this is the unsettled side of the storm. I’m over-stressing that these projections could change due to the uncertainty of the progression of Ida.

James Spann, ABC 33/40, and Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa Chief Meteorologist lets us know that “rain over West and Southwest Alabama Monday will spread northward, and much of the state will have widespread rain Monday night and Tuesday. The rain could be heavy at times, and flooding issues are possible. Rain amounts will be in the 3-5 inch range over the western half of the state, with amounts of 1-3 inches for the eastern counties. In addition to the flooding risk, a few isolated tornadoes will be possible. Initially over West and Southwest Alabama Monday, and statewide Monday night and Tuesday.”

The National Weather Service in Birmingham issues the following guidelines for our coverage area.

Tornado:

• Where: highest chances west of I65
• When: Monday and Tuesday

Wind:

• What: Winds up to 40 mph
• Where: highest chances west of I65
• When: Sunday night through Tuesday night

Flooding:

• What: Up to 6-7 inches accumulation totals
• Where: highest chances west of I65
• When: Sunday night through Wednesday morning

(Source) Click here for more information from the National Weather Service. Click here for more from James Spann. Click here for more information from the National Weather Service in Birmingham.