Ida to have impact on Baldwin

Posted

ROBERTSDALE -- Baldwin County will feel the effects of Hurricane Ida through Tuesday even through the storm is forecast to make landfall in Louisiana, local officials said Friday.

The Baldwin County Commission voted Friday to declare a local state of emergency that would go into effect when Gov. Kay Ivey declares an emergency on the state level.

Jason Beaman of the National Weather Service in Mobile said Ida is expected to bring a storm surge of up to 5 feet in Mobile Bay and up to 8 or more inches of rain as it comes ashore Sunday and Monday.

“We do think the core of the hurricane will pass to the west of Baldwin County,” Beaman said. “However, there will be a lot of impacts to the east of the center that we have to be very mindful of. The potential for tropical storm force winds especially along coastal areas and likely persisting into Monday potentially. We’re talking about the potential for sustained winds of minimal tropical storm force with gusts of 40 to 50 miles per hour possible especially closer to the coastal areas.”

He said the storm surge could affect the Mobile Bay Causeway and other areas near the bay and Gulf.

“With that surge, there could certainly be some road closures, especially on the Causeway. Water levels will come up Saturday night. The peak water levels of a potential of 3 to 5 feet will be Sunday night into Monday morning. But given that the system is going to slow down after it makes landfall. It won’t become stationary, but it’s going to slow down and still be in central Mississippi by Tuesday morning. We’re going to have a persistent strong south wind that’s going to keep water levels elevated, which could still cause some flooding in areas of Mobile Bay Tuesday morning.”

Beaman said 4 to 8 inches of rain are forecast and the totals could be as much as 12 inches in some areas. The combination of heavy rain and high bay levels due to the storm surge could also cause flooding on local rivers and other streams.

Zach Hood, Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency director, said the eastbound lanes of the Causeway to be underwater as early as Sunday night or Monday morning.

“We know there’s going to be some transportation issues,” Hood said. “We don’t know to what extent.”

Hood said county officials should prepare for expected weather conditions or worse if Ida come closer than predicted.

“What we would advise and what we recommend is go ahead and position and posture ourselves going into the weekend,” Hood said. “Having shelters ready. Having evacuation discussed in the event that we need to pull those trigger points based on any changes that could occur in the forecast. This storm is moving quickly. It is going to slow down to about 9 miles an hour. It is going to strengthen. This is predicted to be a major category hurricane and we are just too close for comfort.”