Overall Red Tropical Cyclone for IDA-21
in United States, Cuba

Event summary

Tropical Cyclone IDA-21 can have a high humanitarian impact based on the maximum sustained wind speed, exposed population and vulnerability.

GDACS ID TC 1000818
Name IDA-21
Glide number: TC-2021-000131-CUB
From - To 26 Aug - 30 Aug
Exposed countries United States, Cuba
Exposed population 2.7 million in Category 1 or higher
Maximum wind speed 241 km/h Category 4
Maximum storm surge 2.1 m (30 Aug 05:00 UTC)
Vulnerability Low (Cuba)

GDACS Score

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Wind Storm surge Rainfall GDACS score
GDACS NOAA n.a 1.8 m n.a. 2.5
Single TC: maximum expected impact (wind, storm surge, rainfall)
HWRF 252 km/h 3.1 m 541 mm 1.5
GFS 173 km/h 2.8 m 471 mm 0.5
ECMWF 180 km/h 3.1 m 598 mm 0.5
Maximum expected impact (wind, storm surge and rainfall) using different data sources.
Virtual OSOCC
Meteo assessment
Satellite products
Analytical products
Cayman Islands, Cuba, USA - Tropical cyclone IDA (ECHO 27 Aug 2021)Fri, 27 Aug 2021 15:58

  • Tropical cyclone IDA, formed over the Caribbean Sea on 26 August, is moving north-west towards western Cuba. On 27 August at 6.00 UTC, its centre was 50 km east of George Town City (Cayman Islands), with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h (tropical storm).
  • On the forecast track, IDA will cross the Cayman Islands during the next few hours and will pass close or over the Isle of Youth (Cuba) and western Cuba on late 27 August. After that, it will move over the south-eastern and central Gulf of Mexico on 27-28 August. On 29 August, IDA could make landfall over the coast of Louisiana.
  • Heavy rains and strong winds are forecast over the Cayman Islands and western Cuba, including the Isle of Youth. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Cayman Islands, the Cuban provinces of Matanzas, Mayabeque, Havana, Artemisa, Pinar del Rio and the Isle of Youth.
USA - Tropical Cyclone IDA (ECHO 30 Aug 2021)Mon, 30 Aug 2021 16:08

  • In the evening of 29 August, Tropical Cyclone IDA made landfall in southeastern Louisiana, 65 km southwest of New Orleans City, as a Category 4 Hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 213 km/h. On 30 August at 6.00 UTC, its centre was located about 35 km north-east of Baton Rouge City (Louisiana).
  • Significant floodings caused by heavy rain, strong winds and storm surge were reported across southern Louisiana. According to the Government of Louisiana, at least one person has died. Media report infrastructure damage and power outages for more than 800,000 people, particularly in the New Orleans Area.
  • The maximum measured storm surge occurred in Grand Isle, with a value of 1.54 m above the normal tide. A Major Disaster Declaration has been declared for Louisiana.
  • IDA is forecast to weaken to a Tropical Storm, as it moves northwards, reaching southern Mississippi in the morning of 30 August.
  • Over the next 24 hours, storm surge will continue to affect southern Lousiana, and Mississippi, while heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected across Louisiana, Mississippi and south-western Alabama.
USA - Tropical Depression IDA, update (ECHO 31 Aug 2021)Tue, 31 Aug 2021 15:49

  • Tropical Depression IDA is weakening as it moves north-eastwards over land. On 31 August at 3.00 UTC, its centre was located in northern Mississippi, about 30 km south-east of Winona Town, with maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h.
  • After its passage over coastal Louisiana on 29 August, media report at least two fatalities in Louisiana, while search and rescue operations are ongoing, as several people are missing. Power outages continue to affect more than 1 million individuals in Louisiana and at least 70,000 people in Mississippi.
  • IDA will move further north-eastwards as a tropical depression.
  • Flood and flash flood warnings are in effect for coastal south-eastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama and far western Florida Panhandle. Over the next 24 hours, heavy rainfall is forecast over most of central-eastern USA. 
USA - Tropical Depression IDA, update Wed, 01 Sep 2021 12:56

  • Tropical Depression IDA is moving east-northeast across middle Tennessee and on 1 September at 3.00 UTC, its centre was located about 47 km north-east of Crossville Town (Cumberland County, Tennessee), with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h.
  • Following the passage of IDA on 29-30 August over Louisiana and Mississippi, media report four fatalities and ten injuries. In addition, 441,000 people have still no water across Louisiana.
  • IDA is forecast to continue east-northeastwards, and it will become an extratropical cyclone moving offshore on 2 September.
  • For the next 24 hours, heavy rainfall is forecast over parts of Florida, eastern and northern Alabama, northern Georgia, middle Tennessee Valley, Ohio Valley, central and southern Appalachians, and from Mid Atlantic to southern New England.

 

Detailed event map. European Union, 2026. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

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Estimated casualties (PAGER)

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Exposed population

Data, images, links, services and documents

For this events, GDACS has links to information from the following sources: EC-JRC (40), WMO (1), INFORM (2), (1),