Present The governor declared a state of emergency
/Reuters
Tropical Storm Ida formed on Thursday in the Caribbean and meteorologists reported that its trajectory points to the US coast of the Gulf of Mexico, leading to the Governor of Louisiana to declare a state of emergency.
“Unfortunately, the entire coastline of Louisiana is currently in the forecast cone of Tropical Storm Ida, which is getting stronger and could hit the Louisiana coast as a hurricane of great magnitude, as conditions in the Gulf are conducive to rapidly intensifying, “Edwards said.
“By Saturday night, everyone should be in the place where they intend to pass the storm”, added the governor.
According to the United States National Hurricane Center, Ida is anticipated to traverse the western fringe of Cuba-rich in tobacco growing – starting Friday as a tropical storm and then strengthening before reaching the Gulf Coast on Sunday.
“There is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surges, damaging hurricane force winds and heavy rains between Sunday and Monday, especially on the Louisiana coast “said the Hurricane Center.
“Indeed, Ida has the potential to be very damaging “, said Brian McNoldy, a hurricane researcher at the University of Miami.
Late on Thursday, Ida had maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (40 miles per hour) and was traveling northwest at about 20 km / h (13 mph).
Its apex was about 195 kilometers (120 miles) west of Negril, Jamaica, and about 185 kilometers (115 miles) southeast of Grand Cayman.
The winds with tropical storm force extend up to 110 kilometers (70 miles) north of downtown.
It is anticipated that the storm leaves between 15 and 30 centimeters (6 and 12 inches) of rain in parts of Jamaica, Cuba and the Cayman Islands, with the possibility of more intense rainfall in isolated areas.
Meteorologists warned of possible flash floods and landslides and storm surges 2 to 4 feet (60 to 120 centimeters) above normal, along with “large, destructive waves.”
The Cayman Islands government said non-essential government offices closed at 2:30 pm Thursday and four shelters were activated.
With information from AP
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