Latest Update On Strengthening Michael, Including Impacts On Central Alabama

LATEST DETAILS ON HURRICANE MICHAEL

Maximum Sustained Winds: 110 MPH
Minimum Central Pressure: 965mb
Movement: North at 12 MPH
Location: About 360 miles south of Panama City, Florida

Michael continues to strengthen this morning now with maximum sustained winds at 110 MPH and a minimum central pressure of 965mb. The good news is that the National Hurricane Center had decided to discontinue the Hurricane Watch for the Alabama Gulf Coast. The latest forecast path hasn’t changed all that much with landfall still expected to take place on the Florida panhandle near Panama City Beach.

IMPACTS ON CENTRAL ALABAMA
With the latest update from the National Hurricane Center, nothing has changed from what we were thinking earlier this morning. While the showers will be higher in coverage on Wednesday, we don’t expect to see heavy rainfall amounts across much of the area. Most locations will receive around 1/2 inch or less. Winds will be breezy at times across the area, but gusts will be around 20 MPH or less, especially north of the I-85 corridor.

Locations in the area that will receive heavier amounts of rain from Michael will be mainly along and south of I-85 in the southeastern parts of the area (Barbour, Bullock, Pike, and Russell counties). A Flash Flood Watch has been issued for those counties starting at 11:00 am CDT Wednesday and is set to expire at 1:00 am CDT Thursday. At this point, rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches are possible, and if there is any shift in the forecast track to the west by any margin, those totals may increase significantly.

Pike and Barbour counties were included in the Tropical Storm Watch until further notice due to the possibility of tropical storm conditions occurring within the next 48 hours. Wind gusts of 39 MPH and over will be possible in those counties, while higher gusts are possible in the southeastern parts of the state.

IMPACTS ON THE ALABAMA GULF COAST
We are already seeing the affects of Michael across the Alabama Gulf Coast as rough surf and dangerous rip currents. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are flying the double red flags meaning that the waters are closed to swimming, wading, and surfing. Water levels are already running higher along the coast, as we have already seen minor flooding occurring on the west end of Dauphin Island that started Monday afternoon. Water is now above the seawall on Cotton Bayou.

The good news is that at this point we don’t expect the storm surge to be all that high along the Alabama Gulf Coast as Michael moves closer, the winds will actually push the water out and away from the coast. Until then, we may see minor storm surge of up to 1 foot above dry ground.

Winds will increase throughout the day today and conditions will continue to deteriorate as Michael continues his approach to the Florida Gulf Coast with an expected landfall to occur during the early afternoon hours. The good news is that the Alabama Gulf Coast will be on the left side of the storm, which is usually the less active side of a landfalling hurricane.

Highest wind speeds will occur late tonight through all of the day on Wednesday. Gusts up to 70 MPH will be possible, but sustained winds should be around 55-65 MPH. The tornado threat will be on the eastern side of the storm, so the threat of a brief spin-up tornado for the Alabama Gulf Coast is really-really low.

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