Hurricane fears as Tropical Storm Ida set to gain strength before making landfall on Gulf Coast in DAYS
FEARS are growing Tropical Storm Ida will pick up strength and turn into a hurricane before it hits the Gulf Coast on Sunday.
The cyclone is expected to become a hurricane by Saturday afternoon and continue to intensify in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center has warned.
Once it has passed the Yucatan Peninsula, tropical storm conditions could begin as early as late Saturday or early Sunday with the Gulf Coast states being affected.
The Gulf Coast has been hit by six hurricanes in five years.
According to the system’s projected path – its “cone of uncertainty” - the area affected stretches from eastern to the coastline, with taking a direct hit.
The hot weather though is expected to cool Saturday.
Temperatures in the upper 90s though are expected to continue through the weekend across the middle of the country and the tropical-like humidity will make it feel more like 105-115 degrees.
A number of excessive heat warnings are also in place in the southwest, including Phoenix and where temperatures are expected to soar to 110-115 degrees, lasting through the weekend and into the early part of next week.