This Weeks Forecast

Saturday

Windy. Upper clouds hang around. Expect overcast skies at times. Comfortable temperatures with highs in the low 80s.

Sunday

Remaining comfortable with minimal rain chances and still windy. Highs in the lower to middle 80s.

Monday

A few more clouds around and slightly warmer. Passing showers possible. Highs in the middle 80s.

Tuesday

Tropical Rain?? Still too far to tell.

Wednesday

Tropical Rain??

Thursday

Tropical Rain?? .

Daily Weather Blog

Whipping Winds...

You may be wondering why is it so windy? The reasoning is that a huge pressure difference exists between high pressure in place over the Southeast United States and Ida in the Northwestern Caribbean Sea. The indirect impact on our local forecast is the dangerous marine conditions. Rough seas have prompted a small craft advisory to be issued through Tuesday.

*Boating is not recommended, swimming will be dangerous due to rip currents.

Tropics Update: Recap

At 1:30am this morning, a special statement was issued that Ida had regained tropical storm status with winds at 40mph. By the 4:00am advisory, winds had increased to 45mph and watches and warnings had been issued for the Yucatan Peninsula, the Province of Pinal de Rio in Western Cuba, and Grand Cayman Island. The 7:00am intermediate advisory came in and no significant changes were indicated as Ida continues it's journey moving North.

However, the satellite representation this morning had been showing a significant increase in cloud tops, showers and thunderstorms associated with Ida. It looked perfectly asymmetrical and the edges of the cloud tops seemed to fan out. That was one indication of a healthier and strengthening system. By the 10:00am advisory, it was confirmed by the National Hurricane Center that indeed Ida had strengthened with winds now at 60mph.

Right now Ida remains over very warm waters in the Northwestern Caribbean Sea and could a bit more. It continues to move North at 9mph and will emerge into the Gulf of Mexico late Sunday or early Monday. In addition, this is now where Ida's track and intensity still somewhat uncertain. By days 4 and 5, strong upper-level winds are expected to dig South and move an associated cold front East which could weaken Ida to the point that it may lose tropical characteristics and become extra-tropical. Never the less, the track indicates that Ida will move to Florida at some point. Just how strong? Also depends on the timing of the upper-levels and it's associated cold front movement. Regardless we should closely monitor Ida throughout the weekend.

Advisories:

A hurricane watch is in effect for the Yucatan Peninsula from Tulum to Cabo Catoche.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Grand Cayman Island, the Yucatan Peninsula from Punta Allen Northward to San Felipe, and for the Western Province of Pinal de Rio in Cuba.

For the latest weather information keep it tuned to the storm station.

Chief Meteorologist Phil Ferro will be continuously updating the Phil Factor blog with information on the progress of Ida. Stay tuned!

Vivian Gonzalez

Weather Anchor

WSVN Channel 7