Ida Weakens to a Depression, Soaks the Southeast

Tropical Storm Ida sloshed ashore with rain and gusty winds Tuesday before weakening to a depression, causing little damage along the Gulf Coast but bringing more rain to the already-soaked Southeast.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Ida's center first touched land on Dauphin Island, Ala., before heading across Mobile Bay toward the Alabama mainland and on to Florida.

Top winds dropped to near 35 mph as Ida weakened. Forecasters said it would likely be absorbed by a front Wednesday.

The scene it left behind delighted tourists and residents strolling on Pensacola Beach in the Florida Panhandle on Tuesday afternoon.

"It is beautiful, spectacular," said F.M. Hall of Tennessee as he waded into the frothy water and watched the white-capped waves rolling onto white sand.

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Eric Rohde strolled along the beach with 9-year-old twin sons Dylan and Zackery, who were collecting shells, driftwood and other treasures washed up by the rough surf.

"I grew up in Ohio and this place is paradise," said Rohde, who now lives in Pensacola. "I'll take a storm every couple of years for this."

Tropical storm warnings were discontinued Tuesday morning across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Forecasters said the storm had spread most of its heavy rain along the Gulf Coast ahead of Ida's center. Rain continued Tuesday afternoon in Tennessee, the Carolinas and Georgia, where flooding was a concern.

"The only thing it did to us is knock out the power," resident Jimmy Wentworth said as he sipped coffee outside the Ship&Shore convenience store on Dauphin Island. "Our houses and people are fine. I'm fine."

In Louisiana, authorities continued their search for 70-year-old fisherman Leo Ancalade, who was presumed dead after he was knocked off his boat by a wave as Ida approached Monday. The Coast Guard said he was towing friends whose small boat lost power in the Mississippi River.