Hurricane/Cyclone/Typhoon Journal Entry

Ida is Third Atlantic Hurricane (November 11, 2009)

Hurricane Ida, only the third hurricane of this year's mild Atlantic hurricane season, roared across the Caribbean Sea early this week. The storm smacked Nicaragua, then brushed Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Ida weakened to tropical storm strength as it churned across the Gulf of Mexico, then drenched the southeastern United States with heavy rains that raised the risk of floods across the region.

The hurricane spared El Salvador a direct hit. But heavy rains from a low pressure weather system that rolled out of the Pacific Ocean spread heavy rains across the Central American nation. The rains triggered deadly floods and mudslides that buried some neighborhoods and killed at least 124 people.

Although Ida lost its punch as it chugged across the eastern United States, the storm's remnants spread heavy rain across the Southeast and the Atlantic Seaboard all the way to New England. Some areas got up to 10 inches (25 cm) of rain.