As expected, Ida has continued to intensify overnight with current wind speeds at 60 mph. The window of opportunity is still open for continued strengthening and the system may become a hurricane once again with winds of 74 mph or greater. Satellite presentation continues to show a storm with better organization and an expanding central dense overcast, which is the core of clouds that make up the center part of a tropical cyclone. The official National Hurricane Center forecast keeps the storm just below hurricane strength with winds of 70 mph by tomorrow, but in either case, give or take a few mph won't make much of a difference. A Hurricane Hunter aircraft is headed out to investigate Ida, so the NHC will be able to incorporate better data into it's forecast later today.
Tropical storm watches and warnings are up for Mexico, Cuba, and the Caymans, along with a hurricane watch for part of the Yucatan in Mexico. The official forecast track from the NHC has shifted a little to the north with a greater forward motion from Ida, but a turn to the right is still in the 5-Day forecast track, which would bring Ida in the direction of Florida. At that time the storm is still forecast to be extratropical with winds in the range of 40 to 50 mph.
Gusty winds are already being felt in the Sunshine State, which is an indirect effect of the difference in pressure between Ida and building high pressure off to the north. These winds may increase over the next few days and actually cause for high waves, rough surf, and dangerous rip currents along the east coast of Florida. Continue to keep an eye on Ida's status.
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