The late season tropical event named Ida made a direct hit on our section of the Gulf Coast, but the effects were relatively minor. Ida peaked as a category II Hurricane with 100mph winds as it entered the southern Gulf of Mexico on Sunday around noon. Ida steadily weakened throughout Sunday night and Monday as she raced towards the northern Gulf Coast. Strong s’west wind shear and cooler waters took the punch out of this system as it gained latitude.

Tropical storm force winds, with some impressive gusts, were recorded by most the coastal reporting stations across our area. The peak wind speed was a 62 mph gust reported at Alabama Port. The winds were most intense between 9pm and midnight as Ida neared the coast with 60-65 mph sustained winds. Most of the intense winds stayed just offshore. This tropical storm weakened steadily in the early morning hours on Tuesday. Winds were reduced to 50 mph at 3 am. And, we saw winds of 45mph by 6am as the system drifted over Mobile Bay. Ida was classified as extra-tropical by 9am as it stalled near Foley, AL.

Storm tide values averaged 3-4 feet above predicted tide levels, and most coastal flooding was relatively minor. Power outages were spotty. And most areas saw 3-5” of rain with minor street flooding reported. All in all, there were just a few limbs to pick up and some leaves to rake for most Gulf Coast residents.

Rain totals from the NWS Mobile

ALBERTA,AL (C)           3.06      ANDALUSIA,AL(C)          --

ATMORE,AL (C)            5.41      BEATRICE,AL(C)           --

BAY MINETTE,AL (C)       4.00      BIG CREEK LAKE,AL(D)     --

BARRY STEAM,AL (D)         --      BROOKLEY,AL (A)        2.86

BLACKWATER RIV,AL(D)     2.86      BOGUE HOMO,MS(D)       3.04

BUCKATUNNA,MS(C)         3.10      BUCKATUNNA CK,MS(D)      --

BREWTON-MURDER CK,AL(D)  4.14      BAKER,FL (D)             --

BREWTON,AL(C)            5.50      BAYOU LA BATRE,AL (D)    --

BUTLER,AL(C)               --      BEAUMONT,MS (C)          --

CHATOM,AL(C)               --      CRESTVIEW,FL(A)        4.39

CENTURY,FL(D)            1.66      CLAIBORNE,AL (D)       0.00

COFFEEVILLE,AL (D)         --      CODEN,AL (C)           3.90

CRESTVIEW,FL (D)         3.73      DAUPHIN ISLAND,AL (C)  2.65

DOTHAN,AL (A)            1.16      DESTIN,FL(A)           2.21

EVERGREEN,AL(C)          3.35      EVERGREEN,AL (D)       3.16 (MURDER CK)

EVERGREEN,AL(A)          3.55      FAIRHOPE,AL(C)         3.02

FOWL RIVER,AL(D)           --

FISH RIVER,AL(D)         3.05      GEORGIANNA,AL(C)         --

GREENVILLE,AL(C)         3.15      HIGHLAND HOME,AL(C)      --

HURLBURT FLD,FL(A)       1.91      JACKSON,AL(C)          2.50

LEAKESVILLE,MS(D)        0.00

MCLAIN,MS(D)             2.38      MILTON,FL(D)           4.15

MILLIGAN,FL(D)           3.55      MILLERS FERRY,AL(D)    0.95

MOLINO,FL(D)             3.97      MERRILL,MS(D)          2.79

MELVIN,AL(C)               --      MAGNOLIA RIVER,AL(D)   4.22

MOSSEY HEAD,FL(D)        3.81      NEW AUGUSTA,MS(D)      3.25

NICEVILLE,FL(C)          3.10      POINT CADET,MS(D)        --

PCOLA-11ML CRK,FL(D)     4.88      PINE APPLE,AL(C)         --

RIVER FALLS,AL(D)        2.10      ROBERTSDALE,AL(C)      3.53

RUNNELSTOWN,MS(D)        3.29

SHOAL RIVER,FL(D)        3.73

SNOW HILL,AL(D)            --      SPRING HILL,AL (D)       --

THOMASVILLE,AL(C)        3.49      VESTRY-RED CK,MS(D)      --

WIGGINS,MS(D)            1.60      WIGGINS,FLNT CK,MS(C)    --

WALLACE,AL(C)            4.15      WAYNESBORO,MS(C)       4.05

WHATLEY,AL(C)              --