The US state of Louisiana is braced for Hurricane Ida, which the state's governor has warned will be one of the strongest storms to hit the state “since at least the 1850s”.
The hurricane - which has been upgraded to a category four storm - is expected to hit the south coast over the coming days, with conditions expected to “deteriorate” from Sunday morning local time.
Officials in Louisiana are warning that those living along the coast should leave their homes, as the storm surge could reach as high as 15 feet.
Governor John Bel Edwards says evacuation orders are in place for large parts of southern Louisiana, including New Orleans - the city which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina exactly 16 years ago.
Addressing local residents, he said: “We can sum it up by saying this will be one of the strongest hurricanes to hit anywhere in Louisiana since at least the 1850s.
“We can also tell you that your window of time is rapidly closing.
“You need to be where you intend to ride this storm out, and you need to be as prepared as you can be.
“By 8am [on Sunday], we expect tropical storm-force winds to start to move into the inland of southern Louisiana.”
The US National Hurricane Centre said dangerous storm surges are also expected in Mississippi and Alabama.
Hurricane #Ida is approaching the Louisiana coast and forecast to rapidly intensify into a dangerous major hurricane before landfall. Here are the latest Key Messages. See https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB for details. pic.twitter.com/f6GMTR8NOr
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 29, 2021
They’re forecasting hurricane-force winds for areas including metropolitan New Orleans.
Forecasters said: “Actions to protect life and property should be rushed to completion in the warning area.”
There’s a warning that the storm could also create “life-threatening flash and urban flooding” over the coming days.
