Ida Weakens to a Tropical Storm; Rain Still Likely in Carolinas Tuesday

**Monday 10:03 a.m. Update**

The National Hurricane Center reports Ida weakened to a tropical storm on Monday morning. The system is still expected to bring large amounts of rain - and possible flooding - to the Carolinas on Tuesday.

At 9:00 a.m. (CST) Monday all hurricane warnings and watches along the Gulf Coast have been discontinued. A tropical storm warning is
now in effect from Grand Isle, Louisiana eastward to the Aucilla River, Florida. The area includes New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.

Maximum sustained winds continue to decrease and are now near 70 mph with higher gusts. Some additional weakening is expected Monday as Ida approaches the coast.

The center of Tropical Storm Ida was about 185 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River and about 285 miles south-southwest of Pensacola, Florida.

Ida is moving toward the north-northwest at near 17 mph. One forecast track has the center of Ida expected to make landfall along the northern Gulf Coast Tuesday morning. After landfall, the storm is expected to make a turn to the east.

Storm Team 7 meteorologist Dan Bickford says a flash flood watch is is effect from Tuesday morning through Wednesday morning for western areas of the Upstate, most of northeastern Georgia, and the southwestern mountains of North Carolina.

Two to four inches of rain is possible across much of the area; the best chance for the heavier rain and localized flooding is within the watch zone. Rain should taper off Tuesday night, with a few lingering showers possible early Wednesday before sunshine returns.

Get your exclusive Live Vipir Forecast by clicking here.

Click on the video link to see the rough surf caused by Ida in Mobile, Alabama in advance of the storm's landfall.

Ida is already having an economic impact. Oil prices rose over a dollar early Monday morning to $78 dollars a barrel over fears of what a hurricane could do to U.S. oil and gas supplies.

Oil companies have started evacuating workers prompting the nation's only offshore oil port to stop taking foreign crude from tankers.

Prices are still 47 percent lower than the record high in July 2008 of $147 dollars a barrel.

Gas prices have come down four cents in the past week to $2.46 a gallon in the Upstate, according to AAA Carolinas.

To look at News Channel 7's interactive radar click here.

Follow these safety rules when dealing with flooding:

Monitor the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, or your favorite news source for vital weather related information.

If flooding occurs, get to higher ground. Get out of areas subject to flooding. This includes dips, low spots, canyons, washes etc.

Avoid areas already flooded, especially if the water is flowing fast. Do not attempt to cross flowing streams.

Road beds may be washed out under flood waters. NEVER drive through flooded roadways.

Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams and washes, particularly during threatening conditions.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.