With winds reaching up to 150 miles per hour, the Category 4 hurricane smashed its way through the state, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The eye of the storm was fixed at about 45 miles southwest of New Orleans, according to a 4pm report from the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The storm was moving northwest at 10mph with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph.

       The hurricane brought lashings of rain with it. Forecasters predict over two feet of rainfall for some parts of south-eastern Louisiana.

       The National Weather Service also warned of the threat of tornadoes.

       Meteorologist Jennifer McNatt told NBC News: "Everybody in the path of Ida should be prepared for very heavy rainfall, very strong winds, life-threatening storm surge along the coast and isolated tornadoes as well."

       When the storm hit land, winds were recorded just short of 157 mph, the level considered a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.

       Throughout the last century, only four storms have been recorded as Category 5 hurricanes as they made landfall - the Labor Day Hurricane in 1935, Camille in 1969, Andrew in 1992 and Michael in 2018.

       The worst affected areas for power outrages were Jefferson and Orleans parishes, where around 315,000 Entergy customers were without electricity at 5.30pm.

       READ MORE: Hurricane Ida live stream: Watch 'extremely dangerous' Cat. 4 storm

       The company warned customers in those areas that they could be without electricity for weeks.

       They have called-up an extra 16,000 workers to assist their staff in helping to restore power to homes and businesses.

       In a statement issued on Sunday, the company said: "We will keep our restoration workforce safe and out of harm’s way until the storm passes.

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       "It will be several hours before we can move personnel into the affected areas to begin damage assessment and restoration."

       Tim Craig, a Washington Post correspondent, tweeted that residents in downtown New Orleans has just got emergency flood warnings on their phones.

       There are also reports that an entire building has collapsed in New Orleans.