Sunday, November 8, 2009

A persistant Hurricane Ida has strengthened into a Category 2 storm with 100 mph winds on Sunday. Over the weekend, the hurricane slammed into portions of central america, creating widespread mudslides and flooding across Nicaragua. The storm had weakened as it dropped heavy rains onto the eastern portion of Nicaragua, but strengthened again once the storm re-emerged over the warm waters of the tropical Atlantic.

Hurricane watches have been posted for portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle as Ida is forecast to move northward through the Gulf of Mexico and effect the U.S. coast on Tuesday.

Ida is also forecast to weaken some as it approaches the U.S., but flooding rains could cause the most damage as the storm is expected to move slowly through the southeastern states through next week.