Hurricane Ida rapidly intensified overnight on August 28th into the morning of August 29th into strong category 4 Hurricane as it approached the northern Gulf coast. Ida made landfall across southeast Louisiana during the late morning on August 29th.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS MOB wrote it up.
Hurricane Ida rapidly intensified overnight on August 28th into the morning of August 29th into strong category 4 Hurricane as it approached the northern Gulf coast. Ida made landfall across southeast Louisiana during the late morning on August 29th. Ida turned north and northeast across central Mississippi during late afternoon and evening on Monday, August 30th.
The core of the hurricane force winds was relatively small, only extending out from the center about 50 miles. However tropical storm force winds extended outward over 150 miles from the center. This brought tropical storm force wind gusts to southeast Mississippi and much of southwest Alabama, with a brief period of sustained tropical storm force winds to coastal Alabama. Wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph were recorded across southeast Mississippi and southwestern Alabama. The tropical storm force winds also downed several trees across the area.
The highest storm surge inundation values observed were between 3 to 4.5 feet MHHW across southern Mobile county up into the far north end of Mobile Bay. Storm surge surveys indicated the highest water levels were in the Bayou La Batre area along and near Shell Belt Road where peak water levels were in the 4 to 4.5 feet MHHW range.
The slow movement of the storm caused widespread flooding especially across southeast Mississippi and portions of southwest Alabama. Rainfall amounts of anywhere from 7 to 12 inches were recorded across southeast Mississippi and portions of southwest Alabama. This led to significant flash flooding along with significant river flooding.
Two tornadoes during the afternoon on August 30th. An EF-1 in northern Mobile County and an EF-1 in southern Clarke County.
Here is a breakdown of county impacts:
Stone County MS: Tropical storm force wind gusts downed several trees in Stone|County. Seven to ten inches of rain was recorded and one road had to be barricaded due to flooding. The low lying red creek and mill creek areas experienced flooding, impacting two RV parks.
George County MS: Eight to twelve inches of rain fell across George county which|resulted in significant flash flooding. A portion of Highway 26 collapsed just west of Lucedale, killing three people and injuring seven others. Eleven other roads were significantly flooded and had some form of washout or damage.
Mobile County AL: The west end of Dauphin Island was significantly impacted by Ida|from a combination of high surf, storm surge, and tropical storm force winds. Three miles of Bienville boulevard was impassable due to surge flooding and sand up to four feet deep. The high surf also produced minor damage to a few homes on the west end. Power poles were also knocked down on the island. Storm surge inundation peaked|between 3 and 4.5 feet MHHW across southern Mobile county up into the far north end of Mobile Bay. The highest tidal gauge readings were 3.78 feet MHHW at Coast Guard sector Mobile and 3.82 feet MHHW at the Bayou La Batre bridge. Storm surge surveys along Shell Belt road in Bayou La Batre indicated water lines that reached between 4-4.5 feet.
This surge flooding resulted in closures of low lying coastal roads, such as Shell Belt road, the US Highway 90 causeway, the foot of the Dog river bridge, and the Dauphin Island causeway. Coastal flooding persisted across three high tide cycles which resulted in prolonged closures. Observations at Dauphin Island and Buccaneer Yacht Club on|Mobile Bay measured brief sustained periods of tropical storm force winds between 40-45 mph. Gusts of 50 to 60 mph were recorded in heavier rain bands across central and southern Mobile county. An EF-1 tornado impacted parts of Saraland, Satsuma, and Creola early in the afternoon on August 30th, resulting in three injuries. Rainfall|totals of 8 to 11 inches were recorded across the county, especially in southern and central portions. This heavy rainfall led to some urban flooding in neighborhoods and damaged some drainage culverts.
Baldwin County AL: Storm surge inundation of 3 to 4 feet above normally dry ground was recorded from Weeks Bay northward. This resulted in flooding of low lying areas and closure of the US Highway 90 Causeway. Five to nine inches of rain was measured across Baldwin county, which resulted in areas of flash flooding. A portion of River Road along Styx River was washed out due to heavy rainfall and flooding. A few drainage culverts were also significant damaged in the county. Tropical storm conditions were confined primarily to immediate coastal areas, particularly along the Fort Morgan peninsula.
Clarke County AL: An EF-1 Tornado impacted portions of southern Clarke County, significantly damaging a couple of structures.
Escambia County FL: High surf of at least ten feet resulted in significant flooding and sand on coastal roadways along the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Portions of the road and access areas were closed for an extended period of time.
Santa Rosa County FL: High surf of at least ten feet resulted in significant flooding and sand along the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Portions of the road and access areas were closed for and extended period of time.
Okaloosa County FL: Strong rip currents produced by Ida resulted in two rip current fatalities in the wake of the storm. One occurred on September 1st when a 14 year old teen drowned off a Destin Beach. The other fatality occurred on September 4th when a 58 year old man drowned off Henderson Beach State Park.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Mobile, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 30, 6:51 AM CST, 9 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Mobile AL
751 AM CDT Mon Aug 30 2021
.AVIATION /30.12Z Issuance/...Conditions across the forecast
today will primarily be low end MVFR to IFR as a band of heavy
rainfall associated with Hurricane Ida moves slowly west to east
across the region. Southeast to south winds from 20 to occasional
gusts to 30 knots (expecially down near the coast and over the
western half of the forecast area). Winds will be a little lower
over the eastern part of the area. /12
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 457 AM CDT Mon Aug 30 2021/
NEAR TERM UPDATE /Now Through Tuesday/...Ida has been downgraded
to a tropical storm this morning as the core of the system, which
is currently just southwest of McComb MS, is lifting out of LA
and into MS. Ida will continue to lift north across central MS
today into tonight, then begin to lift northeast into the TN
Valley area by Tuesday afternoon.
As the system lifts north today, a large band of showers and
storms advecting northward up toward the center of the storm will
move slowly east across our forecast area today and tonight.
Training cells along this line will continue to result in the
threat of heavy rain across the entire area through tonight. With
that in mind we will maintain the Flash Flood Watch, and earlier
extended it to cover all counties within our forecast area. Rains
will be likely across most of the forecast area today and tonight,
and then focused more over the eastern portions of the forecast
area on Tuesday. An additional 6 to 12 inches of rainfall is
possible over the western half of our forecast area, with isolated
15 inches possible. Over the eastern half of our forecast area
(which will primarily fall tonight) an additional 4 to 8 inches is
possible. This rainfall, on top of what has already fell and
saturated grounds will likely result in flash flooding of some
areas.
There will continue to be some gusty winds across the area today,
particularly in association with the deeper convection that will
be occurring for most of the day. A Tropical Storm Warning
continues over our MS counties and three southwestern most AL
counties through early this morning, but will likely be dropped
later today. To the east of the Tropical Storm Warning we will
maintain a Wind Advisory for all of the remainder of our forecast
area as a moderate southerly flow continues, with stronger gusts
again near the deeper convection.
A tornado threat will continue across the entire area today, and
perhaps over the eastern portions of the forecast area on Tuesday.
Any potential tornadoes will be associated with the spiral bands
feeding into Tropical Storm Ida. Latest model guidance suggests strong
low-level shear will remain confined to the eastern semicircle and
there is reason to believe some boundary-layer heating will contribute
to buoyancy from southern LA to the FL Panhandle. Forecast thermodynamic
profiles would yield at least 2500 J/kg MLCAPE with these temperatures
and more robust updrafts can be expected.
Coastal hazards associated with Ida will continue today as well.
Minor to moderate coastal flooding has been occurring along the
coast of AL and the Mobile Bay area since yesterday afternoon, and
peak water levels associated with the storm will likely occur
early this morning (around daybreak) as we approach astronomical
high tide and the strong, gusty winds become more southerly. In
the northern reaches of Mobile Bay and down along the coast of
Mobile county on the MS Sound, water levels are currently running
between 3 to 3.5 feet above normally dry ground. These water levels
will likely rise a little more to their peak as we reach high
tide this morning, but will remain above normal levels (and
possibly in the minor flood criteria) at some locations through
the course of the day. Water levels will remain elevated through
mid week as the onshore flow persists, and we will have to monitor
as to whether or not any coastal flood products will need to be
extended further in time. In addition to the coastal flood threat,
a High Surf Warning and High risk of rip currents will continue
early this week as well.
High temperatures today will be below normal, generally by about
5 to 10 degrees, ranging from the upper 70s to the lower 80s for
most locations. Lows tonight in the 70s, and then highs on Tuesday
similar to today but warmer by about 6 or 8 degrees. /12
SHORT TERM /Tuesday night Through Wednesday night/...Conditions
improve across the region during the short term as the remnants of
Ida lift northeast to the mid Atlantic states by Wednesday night.
A trailing trough will be extending back into the southeast from
the remnants, dropping down to the coast by Wednesday night. With
this rain chances will lessen and become more limited to the
southern half of the forecast area as deep later drier air filters
into the region with a sharp upper trough axis over the eastern
third of the country. Nighttime lows Tuesday night and Wednesday
night will be in the upper 60s to lower 70s over inland areas and
low to mid 70s closer to and along the coast. Highs on Wednesday
in the mid to upper 80s. /12
EXTENDED TERM /Thursday Through Sunday/...The aforementioned upper
trough actually deepens and moves off the east coast Thursday into
the weekend, with high pressure building into the south in its
wake. Deeper moisture is push offshore into the Gulf and a mostly
dry forecast is expected through the extend period except for down
near the coast where slightly better moisture and daily sea
breezes will result in some isolated convection. Highs each day
will range from the low and mid 80s to the lower 90s across the
region. Overnight min temps will be quite a bit cooler, with lows
both Thursday night and Friday night in the mid 60s inland and
lower 70s at the coast. /12
MARINE...High impact marine conditions continue through at least
tonight and likely into midweek as moderate to strong onshore flow
persists as Ida lifts northward away from the marine area. Late in
the week winds and seas steadily subside. /12
&&
.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...Flash Flood Watch through Tuesday morning for ALZ051>060-261>266.
Tropical Storm Warning for ALZ052-261>266.
Wind Advisory until 10 PM CDT this evening for ALZ051-053>060.
Storm Surge Warning for ALZ263>266.
High Rip Current Risk through late Wednesday night for ALZ265-
266.
High Surf Warning until 7 AM CDT Tuesday for ALZ265-266.
FL...Flash Flood Watch through Tuesday morning for FLZ201>206.
Wind Advisory until 10 PM CDT this evening for FLZ201>206.
High Rip Current Risk through late Wednesday night for FLZ202-
204-206.
Coastal Flood Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for FLZ202-
204-206.
High Surf Warning until 7 AM CDT Tuesday for FLZ202-204-206.
MS...Flash Flood Watch through Tuesday morning for MSZ067-075-076-078-
079.
Tropical Storm Warning for MSZ067-075-076-078-079.
GM...Tropical Storm Warning for GMZ630>633-650-655-670-675.
Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM CDT Tuesday for GMZ634>636.
&&
This product is also available on the web at:
http://weather.gov/mobThe Mobile radar (KMOB), 41 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:00 UTC.
2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Several roads were flooded due to several inches of rain that fell in a short period of time across George County. All of the roads flooded suffered some erosion or wash out.
Very heavy rainfall with 2 inch per hour rain rates fell over very saturated conditions and resulted in additional flash flooding. This resulted in the collapse of a portion of Highway 26 near Crossroads Road. Several vehicles drove into a 50 foot deep hole. Three people were killed and seven others were injured.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, George | 2021-08-30 | 49 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| Flash Flood, George | 2021-08-30 | 49 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| Flash Flood, George | 2021-09-11 | 39 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Mississippi, August 2021
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 981987, 981948.