Alabama may end up on the receiving end of a one-two punch from Tropical Storm Sally this week.
The storm, which got stronger as it moves northward across the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, is forecast to become a hurricane in about 24 hours. It is expected to make landfall in southeast Louisiana late Monday or early Tuesday.
The National Hurricane Center said forecast models and its official forecast track have shifted to the west some earlier Sunday but were nudged a bit to the east as of Sunday afternoon.
More track shifts may be coming.
The hurricane center urged hurricane watchers to not focus on the small-scale track changes “since there is still quite a bit of model spread in both the location and timing of when the center of Sally reaches the northern Gulf Coast, additional adjustments to the track forecast are possible.”
Hurricane warnings have been issued for parts of Louisiana and Mississippi, but Alabama remains under a hurricane and storm surge watch.
South Alabama could still see some of Sally’s worst weather as it moves toward landfall.
And it’s not just south Alabama that will have to deal with Sally.
All of the state will likely experience effects from the storm as it moves farther inland and then crosses Alabama as a tropical depression later this week.
One of the biggest concerns for Alabama -- especially south Alabama -- is flooding.
The National Hurricane Center said “significant” flash flooding will be possible close to the coast, including Alabama.
Parts of Alabama could get up to 15 inches of rain from Tropical Storm Sally this week.
Sally is expected to slow down as it approaches the coast, heightening the threat from flooding and storm surge.
“Unfortunately, confidence is increasing that Sally’s expected slow forward speed near the Gulf Coast will exacerbate the storm surge and heavy rainfall threats,” the hurricane center said.
“This has the potential to be a significant rainfall and flooding event … even if the storm makes landfall to the west of the immediate area,” the National Weather Service in Mobile said Sunday.
As of 7 p.m. CDT Sunday, Tropical Storm Sally was located about 195 miles east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River, or 160 miles south of Panama City, and was moving west-northwest at 9 mph.
Sally had sustained winds of 60 mph.
Sally is expected to continue to strengthen and could become a hurricane on Monday, the hurricane center said. Forecasters noted on Sunday that rapid intensification is possible with Sally “if the system develops a more solid inner core on Monday.”
Here’s what Alabama can expect from Sally as of Sunday:
SOUTH ALABAMA
Areas near the coast in Alabama could see 10 to 15 inches of rain from Sally this week.
Southwest Alabama could end of facing some of Sally’s worst weather as it approaches the coast and makes landfall to the west in Louisiana late Monday or early Tuesday.
“It is important to stay vigilant and have an action plan in place, as the track and intensity forecasts for Tropical Storm Sally (and associated impacts to the local area) could continue to change as the system evolves,” the National Weather Service in Mobile said Sunday.
Alabama’s coastal areas should expect to see flooding rain, gusty winds, coastal flooding and dangerous rip currents from Sally through mid-week.
Flooding is a major concern with Sally. The storm is expected to be moving very slowly as it approaches the coast and could drop a lot of rain in the process.
The National Hurricane Center said 8 to 16 inches of rain with isolated amounts of 24 inches will be possible along the central Gulf Coast between the western Florida Panhandle and southeast Louisiana from Monday into the middle of the week. That’s an increase from earlier Sunday.
“Sally is expected to be a slow-moving system resulting in significant flash flooding near the central Gulf Coast through the middle of the week,” the hurricane center said Sunday.
A flash flood watch will be in effect from Monday morning through Thursday morning for Mobile, Baldwin, Choctaw, Washington, Clarke and Escambia counties.
Areas to the west of Alabama are now under hurricane warnings, but a hurricane watch remains in effect for all of Alabama’s coastal areas.
Coastal Alabama is also under a tropical storm warning as of Sunday morning.
A storm surge watch is also in effect for the coast as well as Mobile Bay.
Coastal Alabama and Mobile Bay could potentially see 2 to 4 feet of storm surge.
The National Hurricane Center said 2 to 4 feet of surge will be possible along the coast and in the bay.
The National Weather Service noted that if Sally’s track shifts east then those numbers could trend upward.
In addition there waves of 8 to 12 feet will be possible along Alabama’s coastlines.
A high surf warning will be in effect from 1 p.m. today until 1 p.m. Wednesday.
The weather service said coastal flooding potential due to storm surge “will be greatest Monday night (into) Tuesday, although specific impacts for this will be dependent on the exact track and intensity of Sally.”
Rip currents will also be a major concern. A high risk of rip currents will be in place from now through at least Wednesday for all of Alabama’s coastal areas as well as northwest Florida.
All of Alabama's coastal areas will have a high risk of rip currents through at least Wednesday.
Forecasters will also be on the lookout for tropical tornadoes in Sally’s rain bands. The hurricane center said that the tornado risk will begin to increase Monday afternoon for south Alabama.
CENTRAL ALABAMA
Most of Sally’s wind and rain will be to the southwest of central Alabama as it makes landfall.
However, the southern part of the region could wind up in the path of some of Sally’s outer rain bands, possibly later today but more likely on Monday, according to the National Weather Service in Birmingham.
The storm is expected to turn to the northeast once inland and cross over the state starting late Wednesday and into Thursday.
West-central Alabama could see the strongest winds and the higher risk for tornadoes from Sally, according to forecasters.
Winds will likely be gusty, especially in west and southwest parts of central Alabama. The weather service said sustained winds of 15-20 mph with gusts from 30 to 40 mph can’t be ruled out on Wednesday and Thursday.
The weather service also said there will be a risk for localized flooding and river flooding for the Tombigbee and Black Warrior river basins.
Parts of west-central Alabama could get 4 to 6 inches of rain from Sally through Friday, with much of the rest of the region getting 3 to 4 inches.
The weather service will also be assessing the potential for tropical tornadoes, especially on Wednesday and Thursday.
NORTH ALABAMA
The National Weather Service in Huntsville said Sally will make its presence felt in the Tennessee Valley starting on Wednesday and potentially lasting into Friday.
The current track for Sally will take the weakening storm, which should be a depression at that point, inland and then across Alabama starting early Thursday morning.
The outer bands of the storm could reach north Alabama early Wednesday, the weather service said.
Two to four inches of rain will be possible across north Alabama — and some spots could get even more.
Tropical rain bands can drop a lot of rain in a short time, which makes flash flooding a concern for forecasters.
Sally’s rain bands could also bring the threat of tornadoes, the weather service said, “but this will largely depend on the track and intensity of Sally as it moves inland later this week.”
A cold front is expected to push what is left of Sally out of the region by Thursday night or Friday.
Cooler and drier air and a “beautiful” weekend will follow the front and Sally’s departure, the weather service said.
"can" - Google News
September 14, 2020 at 08:29AM
https://ift.tt/32oHQ2u
Tropical Storm Sally track updates: Here’s what Alabama can expect - AL.com
"can" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2NE2i6G
https://ift.tt/3d3vX4n
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Tropical Storm Sally track updates: Here’s what Alabama can expect - AL.com"
Post a Comment