Central America Braces for Hurricane Ida

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Ida is expected to make landfall later today, as it approaches the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua. Heavy rains have already reached Nicaragua's eastern coast. The popular tourist location of Corn Island has seen hundreds evacuated.

Hurricane Ida is the third hurricane of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season. It follows Hurricane Bill (max winds: 135 mph) and Hurricane Fred (max winds: 120 mph).

Hurricane Ida will weaken when it moves inland later today, but if it does not dissipate, it could re-emerge in the western Caribbean on Saturday morning. As it meets the warmer Caribbean waters again, it would re-strengthen into a tropical storm.

Hurricane Ida is forecast to enter the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday as a tropical storm. From there, it could threaten a number of U.S. Gulf Coast states.

Currently, according to computer models, Hurricane Ida will reach the Gulf of Mexico. At this time, the tracks do not appear to be indicate a Florida "hit." It is unclear if Gulf Coast weather will be affected in any way, meaning with heavy rain or winds, at this point.