Active AlertsWashington
Tropical Storm Watch
Tropical Cyclone Local Statement
This product covers portions of southwest Alabamanorthwest Floridasouth central Alabamaand inland southeast Mississippi. ISAIAS QUICKLY INTENSIFYING, FORECAST TO BE A HURRICANE BY THURSDAY MORNING NEW INFORMATION --------------- CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for Butler, Clarke, Crenshaw, George, Greene, Monroe, Washington, and Wilcox - A Hurricane Watch has been issued for Conecuh, Covington, and Escambia CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Butler, Clarke, Crenshaw, George, Greene, Monroe, Washington, and Wilcox - A Storm Surge Watch and Hurricane Watch are in effect for Baldwin Central, Baldwin Coastal, Escambia Coastal, Mobile Central, Mobile Coastal, Okaloosa Coastal, and Santa Rosa Coastal - A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Baldwin Inland, Conecuh, Covington, Escambia, Escambia Inland, Mobile Inland, Okaloosa Inland, and Santa Rosa Inland STORM INFORMATION: - About 630 miles south-southwest of Mobile AL or about 640 miles southwest of Pensacola FL - 22.7N 92.9W - Storm Intensity 65 mph - Movement East-northeast or 65 degrees at 8 mph SITUATION OVERVIEW ------------------ Tropical Storm Isaias has strengthened and should continue to intensify through Friday morning. Isaias is currently moving east- northeast and should eventually turn northward and accelerate towards the north central Gulf coast. As it nears the coast, wind fields will expand with the potential for significant wind impacts and a life threatening storm surge along and to the east of where the hurricane makes landfall. There still remains uncertainty with the eventual speed and track of the hurricane so everyone should continue to closely monitor the latest forecast over the next few days. Areas of heavy rainfall and flooding are possible although with the fast speed of the hurricane at landfall we are currently expecting 3 to 7 inches with localized amounts up to 10 inches near the coast. In addition, a favorable environment for tornadoes will also develop to the east of the track as it moves inland Friday through Saturday. Please continue to monitor the latest forecast updates and follow the advise of your local emergency management officials. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ----------------- SURGE: Prepare for life-threatening surge having possible extensive impacts across the Alabama and western Florida panhandle coasts. Potential impacts in this area include: - Large areas of deep inundation with storm surge flooding accentuated by battering waves. Structural damage to buildings, with several washing away. Damage compounded by floating debris. Locations may be uninhabitable for an extended period. - Large sections of near-shore escape routes and secondary roads washed out or severely flooded. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed. - Severe beach erosion with significant dune loss. - Major damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. Many small craft broken away from moorings, especially in unprotected anchorages with some lifted onshore and stranded. Elsewhere across portions of southwest Alabamanorthwest Floridasouth central Alabamaand inland southeast Mississippi., little to no impact is anticipated. WIND: Prepare for life-threatening wind having possible extensive impacts across southwest and portions of south central Alabama and the western Florida panhandle. Potential impacts in this area include: - Considerable roof damage to sturdy buildings, with some having window, door, and garage door failures leading to structural damage. Mobile homes severely damaged, with some destroyed. Damage accentuated by airborne projectiles. Locations may be uninhabitable for weeks. - Many large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and roadway signs blown over. - Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. - Large areas with power and communications outages. Also, prepare for dangerous wind having possible limited to significant impacts across portions of southeast Mississippi and the remainder of southwest Alabama. TORNADOES: Prepare for a tornado event having possible limited impacts across coastal southwest Alabama, the western Florida panhandle, and portions of southwest and south central Alabama. Potential impacts include: - The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans during tropical events. - A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power and communications disruptions. - Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats pulled from moorings. Elsewhere across portions of southwest Alabamanorthwest Floridasouth central Alabamaand inland southeast Mississippi., little to no impact is anticipated. FLOODING RAIN: Prepare for life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible extensive impacts across coastal Alabama and the western Florida panhandle. Potential impacts include: - Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues. - Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in multiple places. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches may become dangerous rivers. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed. - Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous. Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out. Prepare for dangerous rainfall flooding having possible significant impacts across interior areas of southwest and south central Alabama. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ---------------------------------- EVACUATIONS: Follow the advice of local officials. OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: Now is the time to check your emergency plan and emergency supplies kit and take necessary actions to protect your family and secure your home or business. When making safety and preparedness decisions, do not focus on the exact forecast track since hazards such as flooding rain, damaging wind gusts, storm surge, and tornadoes extend well away from the center of the storm. ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION: - For the latest detailed evacuation and shelter informationplease refer to your local emergency management agency at the phone number or website listed below. - Coastal Alabama: - Baldwin County: 251-972-6807 or www.baldwincountyal.gov/departments/EMA - Mobile County: 251-460-8000 or mobilecountyema.gov - Northwest Florida: - Escambia County: 850-471-6400 or myescambia.com/beready - Santa Rosa County: 850-983-5360 www.santarosa.fl.gov/emergency - Okaloosa County: 850-651-7150 or myokaloosa.com/emergency-management - For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov - For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org NEXT UPDATE ----------- The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather Service in Mobile AL around 10 PM CDT, or sooner if conditions warrant.