National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

 

Central Alabama Impacts from Hurricane Michael
October 10, 2018

 
Overview Wind Gusts Rainfall Totals
Storm Reports Satellite/Surface/Upper Air Other Links
 

Overview

In the era of record keeping, Major Hurricane Michael was an unprecedented storm for the Florida Panhandle, making landfall near Mexico Beach, FL as an intensifying, high-end category four storm with sustained winds of 155 mph/with higher gusts. In fact, Michael was just shy of category five strength as lessening wind shear and sea surface temperatures as high as 1.5 degrees Celsius above normal provided a favorable environment for steady intensification up until landfall. The storm’s final intensity will be assessed by the National Hurricane Center in post-analysis. Catastrophic damage was done to communities in its path from extreme winds and devastating, life-threatening storm surge in excess of 10 feet. Impacts extended well inland due to the storm’s fast forward speed.

While the center of Michael bypassed Central Alabama to the southeast and then east, the overall size of the storm and its close proximity brought a period of breezy winds and rain to a portion of our forecast area. In all, limited impacts were felt, mainly for communities near and south of Interstate 85, where 3-5 inches of rain fell (with locally higher totals) and peak wind gusts the range of 35-45 mph were measured. There were scattered reports of downed trees and some power outages as well. Not too far to the southeast and east, wind gusts were much higher and resulted in more damage. Central Alabama was certainly spared from this storm.

 
 

Wind Gusts

Wind Gusts
 

Rainfall Totals

Rainfall Totals

48 hr Rainfall Totals

 

Storm Reports

Map Coming Soon!

For a list of Storm Reports, click here.

 

Satellite/Surface/Upper Air

Satellite

Infrared Satellite Loop
10AM - 1130PM on Oct 10th (GOES-East)

Visible Satellite Loop
10AM - 1130PM on Oct 10th (GOES-East)

Visible/Infrared Overlay Loop at Landfall
12PM - 1245PM on Oct 10th (GOES-East)

Surface Charts

Surface Chart

7 AM Oct 10th

Surface Chart

10 AM Oct 10th

Surface Chart

1 PM Oct 10th

Surface Analysis

4 PM Oct 10th

Surface Analysis

7 PM Oct 10th

Surface Chart

10 PM Oct 10th

KBMX Upper Air Soundings

KBMX Sounding

1 PM Oct 7th

KBMX Sounding

7 PM Oct 7th

 

Upper Air Charts

250mb Chart

250mb Chart at 7 AM Oct 10th

500mb Chart

500mb Chart at 7 AM Oct 10th

850mb Chart

850mb Chart at 7 AM Oct 10th

250mb Chart

250mb Chart at 7 PM Oct 10th

500mb Chart

500mb Chart at 7 PM Oct 10th

850mb Chart

850mb Chart at 7 PM Oct 10th

 

Other Links