Hurricane Ida strengthened into a major hurricane Sunday, which could potentially bring devastating damage to Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. Ida had maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph), making it a Category 3 hurricane, according to a 2 a.m. advisory from the US National Hurricane Center.
Ida was centered 105 miles (170 kilometers) south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River, and 185 miles (295 kilometers) southeast of Houma, Louisiana. It was traveling northwest at 15 mph (24 kph).
Forecasters said Ida could intensify to a Category 4 hurricane with top winds around 130 mph (209 kph) before landfall. It was expected to make landfall Sunday afternoon. The storm was expected to bring dangerous storm surge, heavy rain and strong winds. Meanwhile, Hurricane Nora formed off Mexico’s Pacific coast Saturday and swept past the Puerto Vallarta area, following a path that could take it for possible close encounters with other resorts farther north.
Nora had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) late Saturday, with tropical storm force winds extending out 105 miles (165 kilometers). It was centered about 50 miles (85 kilometers) north-northwest of Puerto Vallarta, and heading to the north at 16 mph (26 kph).
Forecasters warned that people along Mexico’s central and northern Pacific Coast should be alert to the dangers of flooding, mudslides and perilous surf. Authorities in Mexico’s Jalisco state, where Nora made a brief landfall crossing the cape south of Puerto Vallarta, said there were no early reports of serious damage.
The weakened remnants might bring rains this week to the US Southwest and central Rockies, forecasters said. The US National Hurricane Center said Nora was expected to drag along the coast and gradually weaken to a tropical storm by Sunday night before heading into the narrow Gulf of California, passing close to the mainland resort area of Mazatlan.
It was predicted to keep moving north, before weakening further and heading inland toward the Arizona border region. Climate changes are said to be the main reason behind such natural disasters and it is time for countries across the world to address this together.