Ida: Gulf Coast hurricane warning posted

MIAMI, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Hurricane Ida gained strength as it crossed the Gulf of Mexico Sunday and a hurricane warning was posted for part of the northern Gulf Coast, forecasters said.

The hurricane warning was posted at 10 p.m. EST for the coast region from Pascagoula, Miss., eastward to Indian Pass, Fla., the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. A hurricane watch was posted for the northern Gulf Coast from Grand Isle, La., eastward to west of Pascagoula -- including New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.

The center of the storm at 10 p.m. was about 400 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River, the hurricane center said. Top sustained winds were 105 mph with higher gusts and Ida was moving toward the north-northwest at almost 14 mph.

The storm was expected to turn toward the north and increase its forward speed during the coming 24 hours, before turning toward the northeast Monday night. On its forecast track the storm is expected to cross the Gulf of Mexico Sunday night and Monday and draw close to the northern Gulf Coast Monday night or early Tuesday, bringing high surf and heavy rain to Mississippi and Louisiana.

The storm was expected to weaken gradually but maintain hurricane strength as it approaches the northern Gulf Coast, forecasters said.

Rain is expected to grow heavier across the central and eastern Gulf Coast Monday and Tuesday, bringing a dangerous storm surge to the area where the storm makes landfall, accompanied near the coast by large and destructive waves, forecasters said.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency in his state Sunday, a move that authorizes the state's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to take certain steps to deal with the storm if necessary, CNN reported.

The Cuban government discontinued all watches and warning for Cuba.