The Pensacola area can expect to receive between 10 to 15 inches of rain and bursts of tropical storm force winds from Hurricane Sally as the slow-moving storm creeps toward the Gulf Coast, with an expected landfall between Louisiana and Mississippi sometime Tuesday morning.
The tropical storm developed into a hurricane on Monday morning. Data from a hurricane hunter aircraft indicated the system has rapidly intensified and reached maximum sustained winds of 85 mph. The central pressure has decreased to 985 mb.
Jack Cullen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mobile, Alabama, told the News Journal on Sunday morning that the big story for Sally as far as Pensacola is concerned is going to be the rainfall, which will bring with it potential flash flooding and isolated total of up to 20 inches.
“The rain is going to be the main threat, along with the beaches, which will see lots of large, surface-breaking waves and a high risk of rip currents,” Cullen said.
Sally on the march: Tropical Storm Sally soaks Florida, expected to strengthen in Gulf
Escambia County and Santa Rosa County both closed schools on Monday, saying they anticipated possible tropical storm force winds as early as 6 a.m. today, which would make school travel unsafe.
The waves could be between 8 and 12 feet tall, and the expected storm surge is up to 3 feet. The area is under a coastal flood advisory, with water levels of 1 to 3
feet above dry ground expected along the western Panhandle.
Tropical storm force winds are likely along much of the western Panhandle, according to the National Weather Service. If the storm were to take a more eastward track, then hurricane force winds would be possible.
Sally is different than other storms since it’s not expected to speed up when it makes landfall, Cullen said. The storm is expected to make landfall overnight Monday or early Tuesday, but is moving at a snail’s pace of just around 5 miles per hour. A typical hurricane moves between 10 to 15 miles per hour once it makes landfall.
“That’s the unfortunate part. It’d be nice if it could get in and get out, but this one’s going to stick around for a while,” Cullen said.
Outer rain bands from Sally will start to impact coastal areas beginning Sunday night, and the worst of the weather will move through overnight Monday into Tuesday.
Closure: Gulf Islands parks close ahead of Tropical Storm Sally
The storm is currently forecast to make landfall somewhere between Louisiana and Mississippi as a Category 2, but Cullen said Sally has a “short fuse” and is still unpredictable in its exact track and intensity.
“If you look at the forecast track, Pensacola is not too far east of that white cone area, and that’s the risk area,” he said. “It’s still not set in stone where this is going to make landfall, so that’s why there’s a tropical storm warning in effect all the way to Apalachicola. It’s definitely something you can’t give up on and need to continue to watch.”
A few tornadoes are also possible mainly across the western Florida Panhandle, extreme southwestern Alabama and extreme southeast Mississippi.
Where to get sand for sand bags in Escambia, Santa Rosa
Escambia County Emergency Management said they are closely monitoring the system, including participating in weather conference calls with the National Weather Service and state, according to a press release issued Saturday.
Residents are urged to do the same by monitoring local media for the most up-to-date forecasts several times a day.
Residents are encouraged to prepare their disaster kits now, which should include seven days of food and water supplies for after the storm arrives. Residents are also encouraged to fuel all vehicles and generators and prepare all medications needed by family and pets. Individuals should also consider having at least two emergency supply kits, one full kit at home and smaller portable kits in their workplace, vehicle or other places they spend time.
The county said that this year's disaster kit might need to look a little different if you're planning to go to a shelter — make sure to include face coverings, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes.
Latest maps: Tropical Storm Sally: Latest storm tracks, maps, wind times from NHC
Sand is still available at the following locations:
- Baars Field Athletic Park, 13001 Sorrento Road, Pensacola
- Brent Athletic Park, 4711 North W St., Pensacola
- Don Sutton Park, 2320 Crabtree Church Road, Molino
- Equestrian Center, 7750 Mobile Highway, Pensacola
- Escambia County Road Department, 601 Highway 297-A, Pensacola
- Ferry Pass Middle School, 8355 Yancey Lane, Pensacola, sand will be on the northwest corner of school property on Parazine Street
- John R. Jones Jr. Athletic Park, 555 E. Nine Mile Road, Pensacola
- Travis M. Nelson Park, 4541 County Road 4, Pensacola
The sand is available on a first come, first served basis. Residents must bring their own sandbags and shovels to one of the locations.
Santa Rosa County has some sand available at the following four locations for sand bags (residents must bring their own bags), and will replenish each location on Monday morning:
- Pace Fire Rescue, 4773 Pace Patriot Blvd., Pace
- Corner of Carroll Road and Pine Forest Road in Milton, near the Santa Rosa County Animal Shelter
- Tiger Point Community Center, 1370 Tiger Park Lane, Gulf Breeze
- Corner of Leisure Street and Citrus Street in Holley by the Sea in Navarre
Sally soaked the southern Florida Keys, with rainfall totals of 9-12 inches of rain between Saturday morning and Sunday morning and the rain continued to fall, prompting a flood advisory. Key West had reported a little more than 9 inches at midnight, the fifth highest-ever daily rainfall total. That included a one-hour total rainfall of 3.95 inches, roughly between 9-10 p.m.
The National Weather Service office in Miami also reported 3.07 inches of rain in Florida Gardens in Palm Beach County on Saturday.
Annie Blanks can be reached at ablanks@pnj.com or 850-435-8632.
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Escambia, Santa Rosa can expect 10-15 inches of rain, heavy winds from Tropical Storm Sally - Pensacola News Journal
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