Hurricane (Typhoon) — Harrison, Mississippi

2021-08-29 to 2021-08-30 · Harrison, Mississippi

Event narrative

Widespread minor tree and structural damage was reported across the county due to Ida's winds as well as 9 confirmed tornadoes. At least one mobile home was completely destroyed when a tree fell through the middle of it.

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 978875. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.