Here is the 12:00 advisory from the National Hurricane Center:

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM GRAND ISLE LOUISIANAEASTWARD TO THE AUCILLA RIVER FLORIDA...INCLUDING NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN.  A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 24 HOURS.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR

PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE.

AT 1200 PM CST...1800 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM IDA WAS

LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 27.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 88.4 WEST OR ABOUT 115 MILES...185 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND ABOUT 220 MILES...350 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF PENSACOLA FLORIDA.

IDA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 18 MPH...30 KM/HR. A TURN TOWARD THE NORTH AND THEN TO THE NORTH-NORTHEAST IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.  ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF IDA IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL ALONG THE NORTHERN GULF COAST TUESDAY MORNING.  AFTER LANDFALL...A TURN TO THE EAST IS EXPECTED ON TUESDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 70 MPH...110 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  SOME WEAKENING IS EXPEC D LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT AS IDA APPROACHES THE COAST.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 200 MILES...325 KM FROM THE CENTER.

THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY AN AIR FORCE

RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT WAS 992 MB...29.29 INCHES.

RAINS FROM IDA ARE ALREADY MOVING ACROSS THE COAST WITHIN THE

WARNING AREA. TOTAL STORM ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM STORM TOTALS OF 8 INCHES...ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FROM THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN GULF COAST NORTHWARD INTO THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY...THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS...AND THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES.

A DANGEROUS STORM TIDE WILL RAISE WATER LEVELS BY AS MUCH AS

3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL ALONG THE COAST NEAR AND TO THE

EAST OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL. NEAR THE COAST...THE SURGE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE WAVES.

...SUMMARY OF 1200 PM CST INFORMATION...LOCATION...27.5N 88.4W

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...70 MPH PRESENT MOVEMENT...NORTH-NORTHWEST OR 345 DEGREES AT 18 MPH MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...992 MB

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 300 PM CST.

The following is an 11:30 update from the City of New Orleans:  

Recently downgraded to tropical storm status, Ida, is approximately 275 miles South, Southeast of New Orleans traveling North, Northwest at 16 miles per hour.  Maximum sustained winds are 80 miles per hour.  Ida has weakened due to the influence of cooler Gulf waters and wind shear. 

Tropical Storm winds (39mph and higher) are expected in the lower part of Plaquemines Parish starting at 11a.m., and are expected to reach the New Orleans Metro area between noon and 3 p.m.  Rainfall is expected to reach 2-3 inches with 4 inches possible in some areas.  Tides are expected to reach 3-5 feet above normal on eastern facing shorelines, and 2-4 feet above normal in Lake Pontchartrain.

 
Based on the current storm predictions, NOHSEP is not anticipating any requirement for evacuation in response to this weather event.  However, citizens are encouraged to:
 
·         Prepare homes for a possible wind event
·         Check trees and shrubbery, and remove any limbs that could damage your home 
·         Secure any items in your yard that might tear loose or blow away, including garbage cans, grills, potted plants, garden tools, toys, signs, porch furniture, awnings, etc. 
·         Small water craft should return to port and/or seek safe harbor. 
 

At 1pm, The City of New Orleans Emergency Operations Center will expand its operations to include public saftey and other key support agencies. The next conference call meeting with state officials has been scheduled for 2 p.m. today.