Latest Hurricane Local Statement from NWS Birmingham for Central Alabama

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Hurricane Zeta was located in the north-central Gulf of Mexico. Zeta is expected to make landfall along the northern Gulf Coast by Wednesday evening and move quickly across Central Alabama Wednesday night into Thursday morning. A swath of 40 to 50 MPH winds are expected to occur along and to the right of Zeta’s track, roughly south of Interstate 59, with gusts up to 60 MPH. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are expected with locally higher amounts, which may cause localized flash flooding. There is also a low threat of a brief tornado Wednesday night across southern and southeastern portions of Central Alabama.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS

WIND: Protect against dangerous wind having possible significant impacts across Central Alabama. Potential impacts in this area include:

• Some damage to roofing and siding materials, along with damage to porches, awnings, carports, and sheds. A few buildings experiencing window, door, and garage door failures. Mobile homes damaged, especially if unanchored. Unsecured lightweight objects become dangerous projectiles.
• Several large trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow-rooted. Several fences and roadway signs blown over.
• Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. A few bridges, causeways, and access routes impassable.
• Scattered power and communications outages, but more prevalent in areas with above-ground lines.

FLOODING RAIN: Protect against dangerous rainfall flooding having possible significant impacts across Central Alabama. Potential impacts include:

• Moderate rainfall flooding may prompt several evacuations and rescues.
• Rivers and tributaries may quickly become swollen with swifter currents and overspill their banks in a few places, especially in usually vulnerable spots. Small streams, creeks, canals, arroyos, and ditches overflow.
• Flood waters can enter some structures or weaken foundations. Several places may experience expanded areas of rapid inundation at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage areas. Some streets and parking lots take on moving water as storm drains and retention ponds overflow. Driving conditions become hazardous. Some road and bridge closures.

TORNADOES: Protect against a tornado event having possible limited impacts across 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 boats pulled from moorings.

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS, Severe Weather, Tropical