A developing storm in the Caribbean is on the verge of becoming a catastrophic hurricane, wreaking havoc in the Gulf of Mexico and crashing into Louisiana or Texas early next week.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the system southwest of Jamaica is expected to expand into a tropical storm later Thursday, impact Cuba, and then reach near-major hurricane status as it moves over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The storm, which is expected to be called Ida, is expected to hit Louisiana or Texas late Sunday or early Monday.
The storm’s winds will reach 110 miles per hour (177 kilometers per hour), putting it just below Category 3 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, the NHC said.
“This system is forecast to approach the northern Gulf Coast at or near major hurricane intensity Sunday, although the forecast uncertainty is larger than usual since the system is just forming,” the agency said.
According to weather experts, once the storm begins, there will be little that can stop it. Warm water is ideal for hurricanes, and many sites in the Gulf along its forecast path have sea surface temperatures in the upper 80s Fahrenheit. The storm may also pass across the Loop Current, which is some of the warmest and deepest water in the area.
The NHC said the storm will likely dump more than 8 inches of rain in the Cayman Islands, western Cuba, and parts of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Up to 20 inches of rain could fall in some regions, creating life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides. It’s possible that Jamaica will receive up to 10 inches of rain.
