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Tropical Storm SALLY


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BULLETIN
Tropical Storm Sally Advisory Number  23
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL192020
400 PM CDT Wed Sep 16 2020

...HEAVY RAINS FROM SALLY SPREADING NORTHWARD INTO EASTERN ALABAMA 
AND WESTERN GEORGIA... 
...CATASTROPHIC AND LIFE-THREATENING FLOODING CONTINUES OVER
PORTIONS OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND SOUTHERN ALABAMA...
 
 
SUMMARY OF 400 PM CDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...31.2N 86.8W
ABOUT 55 MI...85 KM NNE OF PENSACOLA FLORIDA
ABOUT 85 MI...135 KM W OF DOTHAN ALABAMA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...60 MPH...95 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NE OR 35 DEGREES AT 7 MPH...11 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...990 MB...29.23 INCHES
 
 
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
 
The Tropical Storm Warning along the coast of Alabama has been
discontinued.
 
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
 
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* Alabama/Florida border to the Walton/Bay County Line Florida
 
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Alabama/Florida border eastward to Indian Pass Florida
 
A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening
inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline in
the indicated locations. For a depiction of areas at risk, please
see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic,
available at hurricanes.gov.  This is a life-threatening situation.
 
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
occurring within the warning area.
 
For storm information specific to your area, including possible
inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your
local National Weather Service forecast office.
 
 
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 400 PM CDT (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Sally was
located near latitude 31.2 North, longitude 86.8 West.  Sally is
moving toward the northeast near 7 mph (11 km/h), and a 
northeastward motion at a slightly faster forward speed is expected
tonight through Thursday night.  On the forecast track, the
center of Sally will move across southeastern Alabama tonight, over
central Georgia on Thursday, and move over South Carolina Thursday 
night.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 60 mph (95 km/h) 
with higher gusts.  Additional weakening is expected as the center
moves farther inland tonight, and Sally is forecast to become a 
tropical depression tonight or Thursday morning.
 
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles (205 km)
from the center.
 
The estimated minimum central pressure is 990 mb (29.23 inches).
 
 
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
Key messages for Sally can be found in the Tropical Cyclone
Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT4 and WMO header WTNT44 KNHC,
and on the web at www.hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT4.shtml
 
RAINFALL:  Sally has produced storm totals of 10 to 20 inches, with 
isolated amounts of 30-35 inches, across the central Gulf Coast from 
the Florida Panhandle west of Tallahassee to Mobile Bay, Alabama. 
Historic and catastrophic flooding, including widespread moderate to 
major river flooding, will continue across this region. Additional 
rainfall of 1 to 4 inches is possible across the Florida Panhandle 
from Tallahassee to the Apalachicola River.

Rainfall totals expected as Sally tracks across the Southeast 
through Friday:

Southern Alabama and central Georgia: 4 to 8 inches with isolated 
amounts of 12 inches, resulting in significant flash flooding and 
widespread minor to moderate and isolated major river flooding. 

Central to upstate South Carolina: 4 to 7 inches, with isolated 
amounts of 10 inches. Widespread flash flooding and minor to 
moderate river flooding is possible. 

Western to central North Carolina and far southeast Virginia: 4 to 6 
inches, isolated amounts up to 8 inches. Scattered flash flooding 
and widespread minor river flooding is possible.
 
STORM SURGE:  The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the
tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by
rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.  The water could
reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated
areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
 
AL/FL Border to Walton/Bay County Line, FL including Pensacola Bay 
and Choctawhatchee Bay...2-4 ft
Walton/Bay County Line, FL to Chassahowitzka, FL including Saint 
Andrew Bay...1-3 ft
 
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of
onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and
damaging waves.  Surge-related flooding depends on the relative
timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over
short distances.  For information specific to your area, please see
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office.
 
WIND:  Tropical storm conditions will continue in portions of the
warning area tonight.
 
TORNADOES:  A few tornadoes may occur this afternoon and tonight
across portions of northern Florida and southern Georgia.  The
threat of tornadoes will shift northeastward into parts of eastern
Georgia and much of the Carolinas on Thursday.
 
SURF:  Swells from Sally will continue to affect the Gulf Coast
from the Florida Big Bend westward to southeastern Louisiana during
the next day or so. These swells are likely to cause life-
threatening surf and rip current conditions.  Please consult
products from your local weather office.
 
 
NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next intermediate advisory at 700 PM CDT.
Next complete advisory at 1000 PM CDT.
 
$$
Forecaster Brown
 
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