Forecasters say Ida has weakened to a tropical depression and is heading east toward the Florida Panhandle with winds near 35 mph.

Ida was a tropical storm with winds near 45 mph when it came ashore near Mobile Bay in southern Alabama on Monday morning.

The tropical depression is moving northeast about 9 mph and is expected to continue in that direction until being absorbed by a front on Wednesday.

Forecasters say most of the heavy rain is over and tropical storm warnings have been discontinued.

The storm had shut down nearly a third of oil and natural gas production in Gulf as oil companies evacuated workers ahead of Ida. But demand for energy is so low due to the economic downturn, energy prices have barely budged.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Previous Story

Tropical Storm Ida has reached shore, but it's already spread most of its heavy rain along the Gulf Coast.

The storm hit coastal Alabama this morning with rain and gusty winds, but those winds are getting weaker. Top sustain winds from Ida are clocked at 45 miles an hour.

From the Alabama mainland, Ida is expected to turn eastward and follow the Florida Panhandle.

Tropical storm warnings are in effect across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

On Alabama's Dauphin (DAH'-fin) Island, the storm has left some debris and standing water in the streets. But aside from power outages, residents say the storm hasn't had much of an impact.

A hotel desk clerk near the Florida state line says Ida was more like a thunderstorm than a hurricane as it came ashore.

Previous Story

Tropical Storm Ida has come ashore over coastal Alabama near Mobile Bay at around 7am eastern time with sustained winds of 45 mph.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Ida's center first touched land on Dauphin Island and was headed for the Alabama mainland later Tuesday morning.

Ida was moving northeast about 9 mph. Ida will be weakening to a remnant area of low pressure over the day today, while drifting slowly eastward over the next few days.

As far as our area, Ida's remnants will likely bring plenty of rain to the area with breezy conditions from Tuesday night through Veterans Day, right on into Thursday. Anywhere from 2 to 5 inches of rain will be possible. Winds along the beaches may gust to 35 mph through the day Wednesday, with minor coastal flooding possible. Dangerous rip currents will be likely as well

Stay tuned to WITN-TV and WITN.com for the latest on Ida.