499  WTNT44 KNHC 301454 TCDAT4  Tropical Storm Ida Discussion Number  18 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL092021 1000 AM CDT Mon Aug 30 2021  The center of Ida has moved farther inland over western Mississippi  this morning and NWS Doppler radar velocities and surface  observations indicate that the tropical cyclone's winds have  continued to decrease.  The strongest winds are located in a band  well southeast of the center along the coasts of Mississippi and  Alabama where recent surface reports indicate 30-35 kt winds are  still occurring. Therefore, the initial intensity is set at 35 kt.   As Ida's circulation moves farther inland, additional weakening is  expected and Ida is expected to become a tropical depression this  afternoon.  Continued weakening should occur while Ida moves over  the Tennessee Valley on Tuesday, and the system is forecast to  become extratropical over the eastern United States by late  Wednesday. The global models indicate that the post-tropical cyclone  will be absorbed by a frontal zone over the western Atlantic by the  end of the forecast period.  Ida is moving moving just east of due north or 010/8 kt. A north-northeastward turn should occur later today, followed by a faster northeastward motion tonight and Tuesday as a mid- to upper-level trough approaches the cyclone from the west. The dynamical model guidance remains tightly clustered with very little cross-track spread, although there remains some speed or along-track  spread in the guidance. The NHC forecast is near the HCCA and TCVA consensus models.  Key Messages:  1. Dangerous storm surge inundation will continue into this  afternoon along portions of the coasts of Mississippi and Alabama.   2. Tropical storm force winds, especially in gusts, will continue over portions of southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi and southern Alabama this afternoon.  3. Ida will continue to produce heavy rainfall tonight through Tuesday morning across portions of southeast Louisiana, Mississippi, and western Alabama, resulting in considerable flash and urban flooding and significant river flooding impacts. Rivers in the Lower Mississippi Valley will remain elevated into next week. As Ida moves inland, additional considerable flooding impacts are likely across portions of the Tennessee Valley, the Ohio Valley, and particularly in the Central and Southern Appalachians into the Mid-Atlantic through Wednesday.  4. In areas that experienced damage and power loss, individuals should use extreme caution during the recovery phase.  Post-storm  fatalities and injuries often result from heart attacks, heat  exhaustion, accidents related to clean up and recovery, and carbon  monoxide poisoning from improper generator use.  FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS  INIT  30/1500Z 31.9N  90.7W   35 KT  40 MPH...INLAND  12H  31/0000Z 33.1N  90.1W   30 KT  35 MPH...INLAND  24H  31/1200Z 34.5N  88.4W   25 KT  30 MPH...INLAND  36H  01/0000Z 35.8N  85.9W   20 KT  25 MPH...INLAND  48H  01/1200Z 37.5N  82.5W   20 KT  25 MPH...POST-TROP/INLAND  60H  02/0000Z 38.9N  78.7W   20 KT  25 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP  72H  02/1200Z 39.5N  75.7W   25 KT  30 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP  96H  03/1200Z 40.5N  70.5W   30 KT  35 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP 120H  04/1200Z...DISSIPATED  $$ Forecaster Brown