Ida can't hold on

Latest information...
Category: Tropical Storm
Maximum Winds: 70mph
Minimum Pressure: 996mb
Movement: NNW 17mph

Tropical Storm Ida is barely holding on this morning. The last 12 hours have seen a dramatic change in the storm's characteristics. Obviously you can tell the max winds have diminished in to Tropical Storm status.

The current satellite image shows Ida has finally allowed inhibiting dry air and wind shear (frictional force) into the center of rotation. Also the cold water temperatures in the northern Gulf have further inhibited any growth.

Last night's discussion labeled this as a minor event for the Pine Belt. The highest impact for maximum storm winds near 50-60mph will be found east of Mobile into the Florida Panhandle. Although the pressure gradient will cause breezy conditions in Hattiesburg/Laurel (15-30mph) late Monday.

Timing...
The storm will cross over the AL/FL coastline late tonight.
Intensity...
Ida will continue to diminish in strength. By landfall Alabama/Florida should only expect extratropical conditions.
Rain...
The best chance of rain will be tonight for the Pine Belt, but we will continue to be on the "drier" side of the system.

Now many of us in the meteorology world are begin to focus on Ida's remnants making a strong impact in New England later this week. If you have travels plans in the Northeast U.S. later this week, you should plan for major travel issues with strong winds and possible heavy snow.