The 2009 Atlantic based hurricane season is only a couple of short weeks away from wrapping up officially, but a late season storm has developed and is heading straight for the Gulf Coast. As of 6pm Sunday, Ida was a category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 105mph. The latest forecast has it sustaining category 2 strength through Monday afternoon and making landfall, perhaps, as a category 1 hurricane just east of New Orleans early Tuesday. If Ida holds together, this would be the first Atlantic based hurricane in 2009 to make a U.S. landfall! There were only two other hurricanes this year in the Atlantic with "Bill" being the only true long track hurricane of the season, which lasted 9 days! Most of the activity occurred in the middle of the Atlantic this year, but there was one, lonely, tropical storm back in August that tracked through the eastern Gulf and made landfall near the Florida Panhandle - her name was Claudette. The image below will give you a better look at the storms this season:



Hurricane Ida Nears the Gulf Coast


Heavy Rain Likely - Flood Concerns Continue

The 5 day precipitation forecast for the Southeast is quite impressive - Ida will likely bring flood watches and warnings back to the forefront where heavy rain has been no stranger the past month. Heavy rains will depend on the track of the storm, which is yet to be determined... stay tuned!



Closer to Home:

Thanks Tadd Parris for this picture taken earlier this fall near sunrise. Mostly dry and quiet conditions continue this week with slightly above temperatures. Sunrises/sunsets like this will be common over the next few days... ENJOY!!



Todd's Outlook for greater St. Cloud

Today: Dry, bright sunshine and temps above average. HOORAY! High: 58

Tonight: Clear, calm and quiet. Chilly. Low: 27

Tuesday: More sunshine! Co-workers spend a little more time at lunch, walk a little slower from their car to the office in an attempt to squeeze out every bit of the mild November weather. High: 56

Veterans Day: What a gift - thanks Vets! Mostly sunny skies out there too, so enjoy. A little cooler. High: 52

Thursday: Increasing clouds, becoming partly sunny/mostly cloudy late. High 51

Friday: Spotty shower or spritz, nothing much. High: 51

Saturday: Decreasing clouds and cooler. High 44

Sunday: Mostly sunny. High 43