From a Tropical Depression that formed in the Caribbean to what at one time was a Category 2 Hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico...Ida is has weakened once again and is now a Tropical Storm heading towards Alabama and the Panhandle of Florida. 

As of Sunday night and Monday morning, Ida encountered some pretty substantial wind shear in the Gulf of Mexico, quickly downgrading her from a Cat. 2 Hurricane to a mere Tropical Storm over a matter of what seemed just hours.  Good news for the folks from Mississippi to Florida, as the direct impact of Ida will not be as strong.  However, as with any tropical system, they are still bracing for lots of wind, rain and of course, the storm surges.  In fact, a lot of rain has already outrun Ida's center of circulation and moving onto the Gulf Coast today. 

Here is T.S. Ida's current forecast path from the NHC:

Just some quick stats for you on late season, November Storms (from www.wunderground.com):

--Historically, about 5% of all Atlantic Hurricane Season storms happen after November 1st.

--Between 1871 and 2007 60 tropical storms have formed.  29 becoming hurricanes and 4 becoming major storms.

--The most recent major hurricane was Cat. 4 Hurricane Michelle in 2001.  Michelle formed in the Caribbean, like Ida, moved across Cuba and then back out to the Atlantic Ocean.