172 mph gust recorded as Hurricane Ida roared toward Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS -- Hurricane Ida made landfall Sunday afternoon as a powerful Category 4 storm that with sustained winds at 150 mph -- nearly strong enough to rate a Category 5.

Triple-digit wind speeds were recorded around the southern coast of Louisiana near the eye wall while gusts topped 70-100 mph inland around New Orleans. 

FOX Weather multimedia journalist blown by wind during Hurricane Ida

FOX Weather Multimedia Journalist Robert Ray showed just how powerful Hurricane Ida was by getting blown down the sidewalk twice.

The highest gust found so far was 172 mph recorded on a ship just off the coast called the Seacor Eagle, according to the National Weather Service. That anemometer was 50 feet off the ground when it took the measurement -- a bit higher than the standard 10 feet for land observations but impressive nonetheless (and quite surprisingly the anemometer survived the onslaught!)

Hurricane Ida Damage

Damage in southern Louisiana from Hurricane Ida (Courtesy: John Humphress / SevereStudios)

A wind gauge on Grand Isle recorded a gust of 146 mph while Dulac hit 138.

Here are some of the other peak gusts around Louisiana and southern Mississippi as Ida came ashore:

Heavy rains added to the woes and caused widespread flash flooding. Preliminary measurements showed Slidell, Louisiana, got at least 15.7 inches of rain, while New Orleans received nearly 14 inches, forecasters told the Associated Press. 

Other parts of Louisiana and Mississippi, Alabama and Florida got 5 to 11 inches. A volunteer spotter near Picayune, Mississippi reported 11.80 inches in 24 hours while a spotter near Carriere had 11.49 inches.