Hurricane Sally Slows, Gathering Deluge for the Gulf Coast
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WAVELAND, Miss. — Hurricane Sally, a plodding storm with winds of 85 mph, crept toward the northern Gulf Coast early Sept. 15 as forecasters warned of potentially deadly storm surges and flash floods with up to 2 feet of rain and the possibility of tornadoes.
Forecasters stressed “significant” uncertainty as to where the storm’s eye would make landfall. But they kept nudging the predicted track eastward, easing fears in New Orleans, which was once in Sally’s crosshairs.
By early Sept. 15, hurricane warnings stretched from the mouth of the Pearl River at the Louisiana-Mississippi line to Navarre, Fla., and forecasters said Sally should reach land near the Alabama-Mississippi state line by late Sept. 15 or early Sept. 16.
Stacy Stewart, a senior specialist with the National Hurricane Center, said Sept. 15 that people should continue to take the storm seriously since “devastating” rainfall is expected in large areas. People could drown in the flooding, he said.
“This is going to be historic flooding along with the historic rainfall,” Stewart said. “If people live near rivers, small streams and creeks, they need to evacuate and go somewhere else.”
Cars are stranded in the sand in Dauphin Island, Ala., on Sept. 14, as Sally closes in on the Gulf Coast. (Jeff Collier via AP)
In Gulfport, Miss., twin hurricane warning flags popped in the wind Sept. 15 at a marina and the sea had risen enough to cover an area normally used for bonfires in the sand. Most boat slips at the marina were empty, and many businesses in town were closed, metal storm shutters or plywood covering the windows.
The storm was moving at only 2 mph the morning of Sept. 15, centered about 105 miles south-southeast of Biloxi, Miss., and 65 miles east of the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Forecasters expect Sally to turn northward in the afternoon Sept. 15, moving near the coast of southeastern Louisiana later in the day, and then travel slowly north-northeastward through Sept. 16, remaining a Category 1 hurricane, with top winds of 85 mph, until it comes ashore.
RELATED: Hurricane Sally to Hit New Orleans, Alabama Coast
After making landfall, Sally was forecast to cause flash floods and minor to moderate river flooding across inland portions of Mississippi, Alabama, northern Georgia and the western Carolinas through the rest of the week.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared an emergency in the Panhandle’s westernmost counties, which were being pummeled by rain from Sally’s outer bands early Sept. 15. The threat of heavy rain and storm surge was exacerbated by the storm’s slow movement.
President Donald Trump issued emergency declarations for parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on Sept. 14, and tweeted that residents should listen to state and local leaders.
My team and I are closely monitoring extremely dangerous Hurricane Sally. We are fully engaged with State & Local Leaders to assist the great people of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Be ready and listen to State and Local Leaders! @GovernorKayIvey @LouisianaGov @TateReeves — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2020
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey sought the presidential declaration after the National Weather Service in Mobile, Ala., warned of the increasing likelihood of “dangerous and potentially historic flooding,” with waters rising as much as 9 feet above ground in parts of the Mobile metro area. Ivey urged residents Sept. 15 to stay vigilant and heed any emergency warnings.
Sally achieved hurricane strength Sept. 14 and quickly intensified to a Category 2 storm with 100 mph winds. Its maximum sustained winds dwindled to a Category 1 by early Sept. 15, and forecasters did not predict further strengthening.
While the threat to Louisiana appeared to be easing, flood control authorities remained on guard, closing gates along networks of waterways that could be pushed over their banks by the possible surge from the Gulf.
The southwestern part of the state was pummeled by Hurricane Laura on Aug. 27 and an estimated 2,000 evacuees from that storm were sheltered in New Orleans, mostly in hotels.
Dustin Seawright, 7, passes the time in the Hancock County Evacuation Shelter in Kiln, Miss., on Sept. 14. (Barbara Gauntt/The Clarion-Ledger via AP)
Sept. 14 marked only the second time on record, forecasters said, that five tropical cyclones swirled simultaneously in the Atlantic basin. The last time that happened was in 1971. None of the others were expected to threaten the U.S. this week, if at all, and one was downgraded to a low pressure trough the evening of Sept. 14.
The extraordinarily busy hurricane season — like the catastrophic wildfire season on the West Coast — has focused attention on the role of climate change.
Scientists say global warming is making the strongest of hurricanes, those with wind speeds of 110 mph or more, even stronger. Also, warmer air holds more moisture, making storms rainier, and rising seas from global warming make storm surges higher and more damaging.
Hurricane #Sally is likely to produce extreme life-threatening flash flooding through Wed along and just inland of the central Gulf Coast from the western Florida Panhandle to far southeastern Mississippi. @NWSWPC expects 10-20" of rain, isolated 30"- historic flooding possible. pic.twitter.com/RPHVT0LR4F — National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 15, 2020
In addition, scientists have been seeing tropical storms and hurricanes slow down once they hit the United States by about 17% since 1900, and that gives them the opportunity to unload more rain over one place, as 2017’s Hurricane Harvey did in Houston.
People along the coast appeared to be taking the storm seriously even as it remained offshore. Coastal casinos shut down under orders from the Mississippi Gaming Commission. Motorists filled a convenience store parking lot in Ocean Springs, Miss., as they topped off gas tanks and stocked up on ice, beer and snacks.
“It’s second nature to us. It would have already been done but I had to work,” Zale Stratakos said as she helped her mother, Kimberly Stratakos, fill three plastic gasoline cans.
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