Storm Surge/Tide — Hancock, Mississippi

2021-08-28 to 2021-08-30 · Hancock, Mississippi

Event narrative

The Bay Waveland tide gauge peaked at 6.91 ft MHHW, indicating roughly 6-7 ft of inundation. Many areas became inaccessible due to the high water. Over 400 roads were flooded by storm surge in coastal portions of the county, including US Hwy 90 and State Hwy 604. Additional flooding occurred due to heavy rainfall, with portions of the county receiving 12-14 inches of rain.

Wider weather episode

The ninth named storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, Ida originated from a tropical wave in the Caribbean Sea on August 23rd. On August 26th, the wave developed into a tropical depression, which organized further and became Tropical Storm Ida later that day, near Grand Cayman. On a northwestward track, Ida intensified into a hurricane on August 27, just before moving over western Cuba. A day later, the hurricane underwent rapid intensification over the Gulf of Mexico as it passed over a warm core eddy and reached major hurricane strength. It was just under 72 hours from tropical depression formation to category 4 strength with 150 mph winds. Ida remained at its peak intensity of 150 mph winds and a minimum central pressure of 929 millibars as it made landfall near Port Fourchon midday on August 29th. It didn't weaken to a tropical storm until it reached near the Louisiana/Mississippi border.

Ida produced over a dozen tornadoes and light to moderate wind damage across southwestern and coastal Mississippi. Around 100,000 residents were without power. Around 100 homes were damaged, 6 destroyed. Storm surge inundation ranged from a few feet in Jackson County to 7 feet in Harrison County. Hurricane Ida caused approximately $10 million worth of damage.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 978874. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.