My prayers are with all the families, friends and businesses in all areas!

Warnings have been activated!

Hopefully you have evacuated, the storm is making landfall right now. This is a very DANGEROUS storm! Moving in as a category 4 storm, Hurricane Ida is making landfall right now at Port Pourchon, Louisiana. The warnings go from Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana to Okaloosa-Walton County Line in Florida. If you have not evacuated, please shelter in-place!! DO NOT venture out into the storm!! Use a mattress to shelter your body from injury. See the guide of emergency NWR Louisiana Stations for further instruction. Also www.nhc.noaa.gov/#Ida. Please read the bottom of this post for further emergency information. This is a very serious storm! Be ready for more storm surge, more high winds, power outages and possible spawning of tornadoes. Visit: The NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center’s Facebook page for more info. More technical information as provided by cdema.org – Tropical Weather Systems.

The current tropical activity report directly from the NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center:

Atlantic Tropical Report: Warnings have been activated! See the information below about category 4 Hurricane Ida! www.nhc.noaa.gov/#Ida. The Atlantic season for the year 2021 is due to be a busier than normal year, and is off to a heavier than normal year so far. There are three tropical regions now, including Hurricane Ida, now at the Florida Keys; and then poised for landfall in the from the Florida-Alabama border to the Louisiana-Texas border–sometime starting THIS evening to middle of the night. The storm is moving toward the northwest near 16 mph and should continue through late Sunday to early Monday, followed then by slower movement northward through Monday. A busy day ALL day today, tomorrow and Monday–See more information below.

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Courtesy of @NWSNHC on Facebook

HURRICANE IDA: Warnings have been activated! www.nhc.noaa.gov/#Ida. Check out for your local listings here: Nationwide Station Listing Using Broadcast Frequencies. A very dangerous and deadly storm, Hurricane Ida is making landfall right away!! Hurricane Ida is a category 4 storm on the Saffir–Simpson scale (see table below), meaning winds are 111–129 mph. It  is making landfall right now at Port Pourchon, Louisiana. Warnings are up from Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana to Okaloosa-Walton County Line in Florida. If you have not evacuated, please shelter in-place!! DO NOT venture out into the storm for any reason!! A mattress can help assist in sheltering your body from injury. Stay under it if falling ceilings and walls happens to lessen the impact. Bunker down and stay as high in elevation as possible. See the guide of emergency NWR Louisiana Stations for further instruction. Please read the bottom of this post for further emergency information. This is a very, very serious storm! Be ready for more storm surge, more high winds, power outages and possible spawning of tornadoes. It is too late for evacuation, so don’t even try! Very warm waters of the Gulf have rendered very prolific development of this storm. Storm surge, flooding rains, high winds, power outages and tornadoes are imminent and present full-scale. Stay as far out of the way of the brunt of the storm. Have an escape plan in place. Residents in all areas should have a hurricane plan in action or visit https://www.weather.gov/wrn/hurricane-preparedness. Please adhere to safety measures and stay out of the way of danger! Make arrangements accordingly. Current posting at – www.nhc.nnaa.gov/#Ida

NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center on Facebook

…IDA PASSING JUST EAST OF HOUMA LOUISIANA…
…CATASTROPHIC STORM SURGE, EXTREME WINDS, AND FLASH FLOODING CONTINUES IN PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA…
A Florida Coastal Monitoring Program observing station at the South Lafourche airport recently reported a sustained wind of 93 mph (150 km/h) and a wind gust of 122 mph (196 km/h).
A Weatherflow site near Dulac reported a sustained wind of 91 mph (146 km/h) and a wind gust of 116 mph (187 km/h) within the last hour.
Also within the last hour, a Weatherflow site near Jefferson Parish reported a sustained wind of 48 mph (78 km/h) and a wind gust of 82 mph (131 km/h).
The New Orleans Lakefront Airport reported a sustained wind of 58 mph (93 km/h) with a wind gust of 83 mph (133 km/h).
SUMMARY OF 500 PM CDT…2200 UTC…INFORMATION
———————————————-
LOCATION…29.6N 90.6W
ABOUT 5 MI…10 KM E OF HOUMA LOUISIANA
ABOUT 40 MI…65 KM SW OF NEW ORLEANS LOUISIANA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…130 MPH…215 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NW OR 330 DEGREES AT 10 MPH…17 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…938 MB…27.70 INCHES – www.hurricanes.gov

Courtesy of @NWSNHC on Facebook

🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀Other Tropical Systems: Four systems including Ida – www.nhc.noaa.gov/#Ida, now named Julian – www.nhc.noaa.gov/#Julian, plus Tropical Depression Ten – www.nhc.noaa.gov/#Ten, and an area of showers and thunderstorms associated with an elongated area of low pressure, located over the central Atlantic, becoming more organized overnight. Visit https://www.weather.gov/wrn/hurricane-preparedness

NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center on Facebook

…JULIAN STRENGTHENS A LITTLE MORE…
…EXPECTED TO BECOME POST-TROPICAL ON MONDAY…
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
At 5 p.m. AST, the center of Tropical Storm Julian was located over the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean about 815 miles (1315 km) southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland, and about 970 miles (1560 km) west of the Azores. Julian is moving toward the northeast near 24 mph (39 km/h). This general motion is expected to continue for the next day or so, followed by a turn to the north, then northeast Monday night into Tuesday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (165 km) from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 995 mb (29.39 inches). Some slight strengthening is possible through tonight. Julian is expected to become post-tropical by Monday evening.
The next complete advisory will be issued by NHC at 11 p.m. AST – www.nhc.noaa.gov/#Julian

…TROPICAL DEPRESSION HEADING INTO A MORE HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT FOR
THE NEXT DAY OR TWO…
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
At 5 p.m. AST, the center of Tropical Depression Ten was located over the tropical Atlantic Ocean about 770 miles (1235 km) east-northeast of the Leeward Islands. The depression is moving toward the north near 12 mph (19 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue through tonight. A general northward motion at a slower forward speed, with somewobbles to the east and west, is expected through Wednesday, keeping the depression over the central Atlantic during the upcoming week.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1008 mb (29.77 inches). Little change in strength is forecast during the next couple of days. The depression could become a tropical storm by Tuesday or Wednesday. If it does, it would be named “Kate”.
The next complete advisory will be issued by NHC at 11 p.m. AST – www.nhc.noaa.gov/#Ten

Courtesy of @NWSNHC on Facebook

🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀Pacific Systems: Hurricane Nora is also making landfall near Baja California Sur, Mexico and the West Coast of Inland Mexico right in the Gulf of California off coast of Sinaloa, Mexico. This poses a great impact on the western coastal Mexico and all of Baja Mexican Peninsula. – www.nhc.noaa.gov/#Nora  Visit https://www.weather.gov/wrn/hurricane-preparedness

NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center on Facebook

…NORA TO CONTINUE PRODUCING HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODING ACROSS PORTIONS OF WEST-CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN MEXICO…
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Mazatlan to Topolobampo Mexico
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…
* North of Topolobampo to Huatabampito Mexico
Tropical storm conditions are ongoing in portions of the Tropical Storm Warning area in mainland Mexico. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the Tropical Storm Watch area on Monday.
Interests elsewhere along the coast of Sonora should monitor the progress of Nora. For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service.
At 3 p.m. MDT, the center of Tropical Storm Nora was located near the west coast of Mexico about 105 miles (165 km) northwest of Mazatlan and about 190 miles (290 km) east-northeast of Cabo San Lucas. Nora is moving toward the north-northwest near 12 mph (19 km/h). A northwestward motion at a slightly slower forward speed is expected to begin tonight and continue through early this week.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 992 mb (29.30 inches). Gradual weakening is forecast during the couple of days as the center moves roughly parallel to the coast of Mexico. However, rapid weakening will likely occur if the center moves inland sooner than forecast.
A storm surge is expected to produce coastal flooding in areas of onshore winds within the tropical storm warning area. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large waves.
Heavy rainfall is likely along the west coast of Mexico from Jalisco to Sonora through late week as Nora lifts northward through the Gulf of California. Rainfall of 8 to 12 inches with maximum amounts of 20 inches is possible. This rainfall will produce life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides. Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches with maximum amounts of 6 inches is possible in Baja California Sur.
The next complete advisory will be issued by NHC at 9 p.m. MDT – www.nhc.noaa.gov/#Nora

Courtesy of @NWSNHC on Facebook

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La Niña is being watched right now, and it would be a rare occurrence of less than two years between a cycle. Active record breaking hurricane seasons happen in conjunction of La Niña, so eyes are on the occurrence. KEEPING SAFETY IS OF UPMOST CONCERN! Check out the Wikipedia caption: Atlantic hurricane season

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The Saffir–Simpson Scale
Category	Wind Speeds (per 1-minute maximum sustained winds)
	m/s	Knots (kn)	MPH	km/h
Scale Five	≥ 70 m/s	≥ 137 kn	≥ 157 mph	≥ 252 km/h
Scale Four	58–70 m/s	113–136 kn	130–156 mph	209–251 km/h
Scale Three	50–58 m/s	96–112 kn	111–129 mph	178–208 km/h
Scale Two	43–49 m/s	83–95 kn	96–110 mph	154–177 km/h
Scale One	33–42 m/s	64–82 kn	74–95 mph	119–153 km/h
Tropical Storm	18–32 m/s	34–63 kn	39–73 mph	63–118 km/h
Tropical Depression	≤ 17 m/s	≤ 33 kn	≤ 38 mph	≤ 62 km/h

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Tips: Preparedness Before, During & After Tropical Weather:
Here are tips before the storm, a lot of these should generally be maintained before a hurricane watch is issued, months before a prediction is made:
PREPARATION BEFORE A HURRICANE:

1. Strap down the roof. Using hurricane straps/clips to fastening your home’s roof to the frame of the house, thus reducing any roof damage.
2. Put head plus foot bolts on all entry doors.
3. Buy or make window covers and storm shutters. Board up any remaining windows. Make sure all glass is covered no matter how small to reduce debris.
4. Take any antennae and satellite equipment down.
5. Caulk around the doors and windows.
6. Secure and protect all attached structures. Make sure all patio furniture, grills are put away or get it into your house. Turn off propane and try to cover them if possible.
7. Test the sump pumps and drains, and make sure the back-flow flap valves are operating to assure that water does not back up from the drain pipe.
8. Turn off ALL utilities at the shut-off valves, and trip the electric main. Pull out all the unnecessary plugs at every receptacle in case of lightning strikes after possible submersion. Do not unplug the refrigerator and/or freezers. Make sure that you have battery operated security as it is not safe to leave AC on during a storm.
9. Take before photos to have handy for your information and insurance purposes. They may be necessary to assist your later damages from the storm.

The instance that you hear, several days before onslaught, put off Xbox and all hobbies and get adequate sleep, because once you are going to make a decision and prepare if the hurricane looks like it is going to hit, you are going to need this sleep very badly. DO NOT think for a minute that you can stay and ride out the storm!! Reporters dispatched out into the storm are trained individuals who undergo years of training and underlying experiences, so don’t even think that going out on a whim to stay and see the hurricane is a viable option. When the authorities state that it is unsafe to stay, get ready right away! Do NOT wait until it is too late. Procrastination is your worst enemy, as a bad rush hour is a baby compared to trying to get out late in a hurricane. This is why a lot of times all lanes of highways go the same way–OUT!

• When authorities say to evacuate, DO NOT argue, and do so immediately.
• Make sure you bring proper ID, you will need it to get back when the storm has passed.
• Leave and mobile homes and to go to a nearby shelter.
• If your home is not on high ground or in a flood plain, go to a shelter.

Make sure you do not forget anything at home, because you will not be able to return to home one you leave! The authorities WILL NOT allow you to go back once you make your move for any reason, as they do not have time to deal with security issues and are trained to make sure everyone is getting out. If you wait too long and cannot evacuate, if you have an emergency, a lot of times there may be no assistance for you in an emergency. Phone lines are down even in this computer age, and emergency individuals are swarmed with work, and a lot of people already evacuated. Here are some survival tips:+
DURING A HURRICANE:

1. Always stay indoors during a hurricane, and do not venture outside because strong winds will blow things around. The force of a flying object can be deadly or devastating.
2. Make sure you know low-lying and flood prone areas, and STAY AWAY. Once water covers, you will not know how low they really are. Do not walk on the flooded areas, as manhole covers wash away, and the chance of falling into a crevice is very dangerous.
3. Stay informed by monitoring the storm by radio, and if power is still an option, plug in the TV, and/or internet. A battery operated NOAA.com weather radio is most helpful.
4. Avoid the phone, except for a serious emergency.

Stay alert for extended rainfall and all subsequent flooding after the hurricane has passed and tropical storm has moved out of the area. If you evacuated, return only when the officials approve say it is safe. Drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed out areas. Have ID ready as checkpoints only allow officials, media, cleared parties and people with proper credentials to pass for safety and security.
Here are After the Storm tips:
AFTER A HURRICANE:
Access any and all damages carefully and pay attention to safety, including embedded glass and shrapnel. Have a first aid kit handy.

1. Call insurance and only follow the following tips after proper accessing has been done, and don’t forget to take photos first before you fix damages. keep all receipts for supplies, fixing–for insurance or to claim a loss.
2. Access the possibility and turn on utilities ONLY if possible, plug in at every receptacle in case of lightning strikes after possible submersion. Make sure that you have battery operated security as it is not safe to leave AC on during a storm.
3. Access stability and remove the straps on the roof. Remove hurricane straps/clips to fastening your home’s roof to the frame of the house, thus reducing any roof damage.
4. Remove any head/foot bolts on entry doors.
5. Remove or higher window covers and storm shutters. Carefully take all board-up and covering down/off.
6. Re-install antennae and satellite equipment.
7. Take down the strapping from secured attached structures. Re-position all patio furniture, grills, etc. Turn on propane and hook up utilities if possible.
8. Check the sump pumps and drains, and make sure they are operating properly to assure that they are ready for subsequent storms.
9. It may take several weeks to dispose of refuse, make sure if any waste is hazardous to dispose of properly.
10. Fix the decor to return everything to it’s normal state.

The good news of a hurricane, is that they are the most predictable storm on the planet. Except in the late hurricane season of late October and November hurricanes usually move at predictable speeds, and are seen days ahead of time. The problem is that in true reality, if you know that you are in a hurricane zone, you really should play it smart and be prepared with plenty of supplies that are put away in a close storage area, so that the only thing you need to do to prepare for an oncoming hurricane is boarding up and getting out.

A hurricane is a nasty fact of life, but truly is necessary for the world to exist as it does. Hurricanes are mother nature’s control and thermostat to ensure that the oceans do not overheat. The hurricane sheds heat off the ocean surface and casts the heat into outer space really fast. They are true heat vacuums. The cores of heat shed from hurricanes make the ceilings of heat from 5 times to sometimes fifty times higher in altitude. It is the only time heat ever goes this high up. The price? The waters of the tropical oceans pay a high price in lost ocean wildlife and damage to underwater vegetation including the coral reef if the oceans are too warm. Hurricanes also pull the continental weather down further south in this hemisphere to ensure that the polar weather doesn’t get so intense in the tundra areas, so that vegetation can exist. Hurricanes absolutely need to exist if we want to live on earth. They are not going away, and we need to be prepared, and be safe.

FIND YOUR LOCAL NOAA.com WEATHER RADIO STATION:

FIND YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORESCAST:

STAY SAFE!!!