Hurricane Ida could be one of the worst storms to hit Louisiana in 170 years and is expected to make landfall in the next few hours.

The “extremely life-threatening” surge is set to trigger devastating flash flooding in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana when it arrives later on Sunday – the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

Ida has been graded as category four – capable of causing “catastrophic” damage and leaving the area uninhabitable for months.

Ida quickly gained strength as it moved into the northern Gulf, going from top winds of 115mph in a 1am update to 145mph a few hours later.

John Bel Edwards, governor of Louisiana, said: “This will be one of the strongest hurricanes to hit anywhere in Louisiana since at least the 1850s.”

This will be one of the strongest storms to hit Louisiana since at least the 1850s. Preparations need to be complete and you need to be where you intend to ride out the storm by tonight. Conditions will begin deteriorating early tomorrow morning. Stay vigilant. #lagov #lawx #Ida pic.twitter.com/7wkArbd9uo

New Orleans in Louisiana will bear the brunt of the storm, after already being ravaged by Hurricane Katrina which made landfall on 29 August 2005.

Katrina, which killed more than 1,800 people, was graded category three when it arrived.

Thousands of residents and visitors are desperately trying to flee New Orleans before the storm makes landfall, with traffic gridlocked on the Interstate 10 route out of the city.

Hundreds in the area have been pictured boarding up windows and gathering sandbags as the storm edges closer.

It comes amid warnings about another severe weather system, Hurricane Nora, which is travelling northward up Mexico’s Pacific Coast towards the narrow Gulf of California.

“There is a danger of a life-threatening storm surge inundation Sunday along the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama within the storm surge warning area,” the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said in a key advisory message issued around 10pm local time on Saturday.

“Extremely life-threatening inundation of 9 feet or greater above ground level is possible somewhere within the area from Morgan City, Louisiana, to the coast of Mississippi.”

And the NHC warned local levees – built to stop rivers overflowing – could succumb to Ida’s rapidly-increasing intensity.

Officials warned the storm will be “life-altering” for those who have not taken precautions – as President Joe Biden urged people to “be prepared”.

President Biden met with the NHC and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to discuss the course of action on Saturday.

More than a dozen search and rescue teams have been assigned to help people unable to leave.

Meanwhile more than 100 ambulances and 20 air ambulances have been deployed to support evacuations of nursing homes in the path of the storm.

The Coast Guard has also positioned vehicles for deep water search and rescue missions, while efforts are being made to source hundreds of generators amid fears about widespread power outages which could last months.

Today I was briefed on our preparations for Hurricane Ida by @FEMA. We have deployed emergency response personnel and pre-positioned food, water, generators, and supplies to make sure we’re ready to respond. If you are in Ida’s path, please pay attention and be prepared. pic.twitter.com/FgIQOrfUuY

Tweeting from the @POTUS account, President Biden said: “Today I was briefed on our preparations for Hurricane Ida by @FEMA.

“We have deployed emergency response personnel and pre-positioned food, water, generators and supplies to make sure we’re ready to respond.

“If you are in Ida’s path, please pay attention and be prepared.”

Related posts:

PM tells Biden global vaccine access ‘key’ to beating COVID as pair also discuss climate change Biden scraps Trump-era drilling programme in Alaska’s Arctic Refuge Coachella festival to return after two years off due to pandemic Guns, beer and childcare on offer for Americans in drive to increase COVID vaccinations Group linked to Russia is behind hacking of world’s largest meatpacking company – report US forces leave main base in Afghanistan – despite fears of looming civil war Remainder of collapsed Miami building to be demolished as more bodies found ‘A new call to action’: Prince William and ex-New York mayor Bloomberg team up for climate project Strained US-China relations make climate talks more difficult, John Kerry admits The people Joe Biden has to win over if he is to make combating climate change a central part of his legacy Amy Winehouse’s final performance dress among late singer’s items going up for auction Sharon Stone attacks ‘dangerous’ Joe Rogan over COVID views – but Dwayne Johnson among stars to back podcaster