Hurricane Sally made landfall in Gulf Shores, AL at 5am on Wednesday, September 16th as a strong Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. Sally produced widespread wind, storm surge, and freshwater flooding across coastal AL and the western Florida Panhandle. Flood and wind damage also extended well inland into inland southwest Alabama and south central Alabama. Sally was an extremely slow moving hurricane, which prolonged and exacerbated the local impacts. The storm was moving at less than 5 mph at the time of landfall, resulting in a long duration of tropical storm and hurricane force winds, storm surge, and torrential rainfall.
There were 3 direct fatalities as a result of Sally. One fatality occurred in the Wolf Bay area (Baldwin County AL.) Two men were riding the storm out on their boat and at some point during the storm attempted to swim to shore. One of the men made it to a pier and was rescued and hospitalised; the other man drowned. The second fatality occurred on Innerarity Point, FL (Escambia County FL) where a 45 year old woman drowned when the vehicle she was driving was overtaken by the incoming storm surge. The third fatality occurred in Perdido Key, FL (Escambia County FL) when a 27 year old man drowned trying to retrieve a boat that was swept away by the surge and high surf.
There were also 3 indirect fatalities. One was due to storm cleanup in the Foley, AL area with two others (one in both Baldwin County and Escambia County FL) due to carbon monoxide poisoning from improper generator use.
Summary of all Local Storm Reports (LSRs) across the area during Hurricane Sally and LSRs across the region during Sally.
Hurricane Sally made landfall in Gulf Shores, AL and significant impacts were felt across the entire region (although the majority of the impacts remained across southern Alabama and northwest Florida). Below are some of the local impacts...
Jump to - Rainfall, Wind, Storm Surge, Tornado, Post-Tropical Cyclone Report, or Additional Information sections.
The very slow movement of Sally resulted in rainfall totals of 15 to 30 inches across Baldwin County into the western Florida Panhandle. 7 to 15 inches of rain fell across parts of inland southwest Alabama, along and east of Interstate 65, and south central Alabama. This torrential rain resulted in major river and flash flooding, especially in Baldwin County eastward into the Florida Panhandle. Thousands of water rescues were conducted during the storm due to rapidly rising water and many homes were flooded. Road closures were extensive, especially in Baldwin County east into the western Florida Panhandle and some roads were damaged or washed out. Several rivers reached moderate to major flood stage and some crested within the top 5 of their historical crests.
A list of rainfall totals across the area can be found on our dedicated rainfall webpage for Sally.
Rainfall Map for much of the Southeastern US.
Wind damage was extensive across the region, especially in areas that experienced the eyewall of Sally over a several hour duration. Wind damage was most extensive from southeast Mobile County eastward across Baldwin County AL into Escambia County FL. These locations experienced prolonged hurricane conditions with wind gusts over 100 mph, especially close to the immediate coast. Many homes across the area suffered roof damage from the winds and an untold number of homes were damaged by fallen trees. The tree damage was most extensive in Baldwin County, but also significant in parts of Mobile and Escambia Counties which experienced hurricane conditions. The pecan farms of Baldwin County took a major hit with well over a thousand pecan trees downed throughout the county.
Timber loss was extensive. The Alabama Forestry Commission estimates that 2,440 forested acres were damaged with 79,175 tons of timber destroyed at a value of $1,564,160. Most of this occurred in Baldwin County.
The comprehensive list of land and marine wind gusts (converted to mph) can be found at this link.
Storm surge and resultant damage was widespread and significant from Baldwin County eastward to Okaloosa County. The highest surge occurred in the bays and sounds of Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle, with generally lower values and lesser impacts on the immediate Gulf facing shores. A peak inundation of 7 to 9 feet above ground level was officially surveyed across some locations in the back bays and sounds of southeast Baldwin County, as well as the northern end of Escambia and Blackwater Bays. A larger area was impacted by 3 to 6 feet of inundation, including along the immediate Gulf facing shores. It should be noted that the extremely heavy rainfall exacerbated the total water levels, although it is difficult to determine the exact extent. Regardless, thousands of structures along coastal areas were flooded by the combination surge and torrential rainfall.
*Note: Inundation at the Pensacola gauge was the 3rd highest storm surge on record for that location.
The only higher water levels were: 9.54 ft MHHW during 2004 Hurricane Ivan and 7.42 ft MHHW during the 1926 Miami Hurricane.
There were no documented tornadoes associated with Sally.
POST TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORT...HURRICANE SALLY...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 124 PM CDT SAT OCT 10 2020 NOTE: THE DATA SHOWN HERE ARE PRELIMINARY....AND SUBJECT TO UPDATES AND CORRECTIONS AS APPROPRIATE. THIS REPORT INCLUDES EVENTS OCCURRING WHEN WATCHES AND/OR WARNINGS WERE IN EFFECT...OR WHEN SIGNIFICANT FLOODING ASSOCIATED WITH SALLY OR ITS REMNANTS WAS AFFECTING THE AREA. COUNTIES INCLUDED...BALDWIN...BUTLER...CHOCTAW...CLARKE...CONECUH... COVINGTON...CRENSHAW...ESCAMBIA AL...ESCAMBIA FL...GEORGE... GREENE...MOBILE...MONROE...OKALOOSA...PERRY...SANTA ROSA...STONE... WASHINGTON...WAYNE...WILCOX OCT 2...UPDATED FOR...WIND OBSERVATIONS...RAINFALL TOTALS...SURGE INFORMATION...AND COUNTY IMPACTS. OCT 10...UPDATED FOR...ADDED RAINFALL TOTALS FOR THE USA CHILI MESONET SITES IN FOLEY AND ELBERTA. A. LOWEST SEA LEVEL PRESSURE/MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS AND PEAK GUSTS --------------------------------------------------------------------- METAR OBSERVATIONS... NOTE: ANEMOMETER HEIGHT IS 10 METERS AND WIND AVERAGING IS 2 MINUTES --------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCATION ID MIN DATE/ MAX DATE/ PEAK DATE/ LAT LON PRES TIME SUST TIME GUST TIME DEG DECIMAL (MB) (UTC) (KT) (UTC) (KT) (UTC) --------------------------------------------------------------------- KMOB-MOBILE/BATES FIELD AL 30.68 -88.25 994.8 16/1156 010/040 16/1026 010/071 16/1135 KBFM-MOBILE DOWNTOWN AL 30.64 -88.07 990.6 16/1053 360/041 16/0935 010/065 16/1108 KNPA-NAS PENSACOLA, PENSACOLA FL 30.35 -87.32 984.4 16/1056 160/064 16/1119 160/080 16/1119 KNSE-WHITING FLD-N NAS, MILTON FL 30.72 -87.02 990.4 16/1656 170/039 16/1656 140/057 16/1504 KCEW-CRESTVIEW FL 30.79 -86.52 1002.1 16/1453 090/021 16/0746 070/036 16/0741 KHRT-HURLBURT FIELD FL 30.43 -86.68 999.1 16/1556 190/039 16/1456 160/057 16/1335 KVPS-EGLIN AFB/VALPAR FL 30.48 -86.53 999.9 16/1952 210/028 16/1809 210/049 16/1809 KDTS-DESTIN/FT WALTON BEACH ARPT FL 30.40 -86.47 1000.4 16/1953 090/023 16/0353 110/040 16/0333 K79J-ANDALUSIA/OPP AP AL 31.32 -86.41 996.5 16/2156 080/030 16/1456 080/046 16/1456 K0J4-FLORALA MUNICIPAL AL 31.04 -86.31 997.6 16/2158 080/021 16/1211 170/040 16/2107 KGZH-EVERGREEN AL 31.42 -87.04 1003.2 16/1353 050/022 16/1412 070/039 16/1350 KPRN-MACCRENSHAW MEM AP, GREENVILLE AL 31.85 -86.61 994.5 16/2157 060/024 16/2013 060/049 16/1742 KEGI-DUKE FLD/EGLIN AFB FL 30.65 -86.52 1007.7 16/0010 080/019 16/0101 080/034 16/0136 REMARKS: NON-METAR OBSERVATIONS... NOTE: ANEMOMETER HEIGHT IN METERS AND WIND AVERAGING PERIOD IN MINUTES INDICATED UNDER MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WIND IF KNOWN --------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCATION ID MIN DATE/ MAX DATE/ PEAK DATE/ LAT LON PRES TIME SUST TIME GUST TIME DEG DECIMAL (MB) (UTC) (KT) (UTC) (KT) (UTC) --------------------------------------------------------------------- XGLF-GULF SHORES/FOLEY (WEATHERFLOW) AL 30.36 -87.65 966 16/0910 040/065 16/0844 040/081 16/0843 10.4 FCMP-FCMP T5 - GULF SHORES (WEATHERFLOW) AL 30.29 -87.68 000/066 16/0752 080/080 16/0753 10 XGBZ-GULF BREEZE (WEATHERFLOW) FL 30.36 -87.16 988 16/1239 200/046 16/1354 180/066 16/1110 15 XCBS-CRYSTAL BEACH (WEATHERFLOW) FL 30.39 -87.41 998 16/2131 200/032 16/1704 120/044 16/0843 13.7 XBUC-BUCCANEER YACHT CLUB (WEATHERFLOW) AL 30.58 -88.07 987 16/0956 030/045 16/0234 350/054 16/0941 10.4 ELBERTA (USA CHILI) AL 30.41 -87.60 I 999/999 I 070/086 16/0914 7 CITY OF ORANGE BEACH - DAVIS WX STATION AL 30.27 -87.59 I 999/073 I 999/090 I DOW8 - PERDIDO PASS AL 30.28 -87.55 999/081 16/0750 999/103 16/0750 11 REMARKS: DOW8 MOBILE DOPPLER RESEARCH RADAR WAS POSITIONED ON THE EAST SIDE OF PERDIDO PASS AND WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN ANEMOMETER. THE 103 KT (118MPH) GUST REPORTED ABOVE WAS THE MAX 3 SECOND GUST. THE ANEMOMETER ALSO MEASURED A 1 SECOND GUST OF 107 KT (123 MPH.) THE ANEMOMETER HEIGHT RANGED FROM 9-13 METERS (30-43 FEET.) THE CITY OF ORANGE BEACH DAVIS WEATHER STATION STOPPED REPORTING JUST AS THE EYEWALL WAS MOVING ASHORE. B. MARINE OBSERVATIONS... NOTE: ANEMOMETER HEIGHT IN METERS AND WIND AVERAGING PERIOD IN MINUTES INDICATED UNDER MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WIND IF KNOWN --------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCATION ID MIN DATE/ MAX DATE/ PEAK DATE/ LAT LON PRES TIME SUST TIME GUST TIME DEG DECIMAL (MB) (UTC) (KT) (UTC) (KT) (UTC) --------------------------------------------------------------------- XFPL-FAIR POINT LIGHT (PENSACOLA BAY) 30.37 -87.21 I 130/053 16/1131 130/071 16/1136 4.6 XOFP-OKALOOSA ISLAND FISHING PIER 30.39 -86.59 I 120/050 16/0815 120/061 16/0815 13.7 XFWB-FT. WALTON BEACH (W CHOCTAWHATCHEE BAY) 30.40 -86.56 I 160/046 16/0813 160/056 16/0813 7.3 NOAA COOPS 8735180 - DAUPHIN ISLAND 30.25 -88.07 980.5 16/0942 080/076 16/0812 330/090 16/1006 7 42012-ORANGE BEACH, AL BUOY 30.07 -87.56 970.5 16/0830 999/070 16/0449 999/095 16/0510 4 DPIA1-DAUPHIN ISLAND, AL/V 30.25 -88.07 981.3 16/1000 360/070 16/0810 360/086 16/0819 14 MBLA1-MIDDLE BAY LIGHT, AL 30.44 -88.01 979 16/1026 330/073 16/0930 330/081 16/1056 14.2 REMARKS: C. STORM TOTAL RAINFALL FROM 1200 UTC SEP 14 UNTIL 1200 UTC SEP 17 --------------------------------------------------------------------- CITY/TOWN COUNTY ID RAINFALL LAT LON (IN) DEG DECIMAL --------------------------------------------------------------------- ORANGE BEACH BALDWIN PUBLIC 29.99 30.27 -87.59 2 E FORT MORGAN BALDWIN PUBLIC 29.30 30.23 -87.99 4 W NAS PENSACOLA BALDWIN SPOTTER 24.88 30.33 -87.39 2 NE PENSACOLA ESCAMBIA 22.25 30.47 -87.17 FOLEY BALDWIN USA CHILI 21.04 30.37 -87.65 ELBERTA BALDWIN USA CHILI 20.99 30.41 -87.58 NAVARRE SANTA ROSA PUBLIC 19.95 30.41 -86.91 19 WSW PENSACOLA BALDWIN FL-ES-24 19.86 30.31 -87.47 GULF BREEZE SANTA ROSA PUBLIC 18.97 30.36 -87.16 2 N POLLARD ESCAMBIA AL-ES-1 18.83 31.06 -87.17 3 ENE BREWTON ESCAMBIA COOP 17.44 31.11 -87.02 1 E MARY ESTHER OKALOOSA FL-OK-29 17.33 30.41 -86.65 3 WNW SUMMERDALE BALDWIN AL-BW-85 15.92 30.50 -87.74 4 SE NICEVILLE OKALOOSA FL-OK-1 15.47 30.49 -86.44 7 SW FOLEY BALDWIN AL-BW-8 15.34 30.34 -87.78 PACE SANTA ROSA PUBLIC 15.07 30.60 -87.16 6 NE EGLIN AFB OKALOOSA FL-OK-2 14.97 30.52 -86.49 2 ESE FT. WALTON BEACH OKALOOSA FL-OK-43 14.40 30.42 -86.59 1 NW DESTIN OKALOOSA FL-K-33 14.23 30.40 -86.49 0 SW RED LEVEL COVINGTON AL-CV-13 13.55 31.40 -86.61 3 NW MILTON ESCAMBIA FL-SR-26 13.05 30.66 -87.08 2 WSW FAIRHOPE BALDWIN AL-BW-40 12.44 30.51 -87.91 CRESTVIEW OKALOOSA KCEW 11.52 30.78 -86.52 ANDALUSIA-OPP AIRPORT COVINGTON K79J 11.31 31.31 -86.39 FLORALA COVINGTON K0J4 10.34 31.05 -86.31 DAUPHIN ISLAND MOBILE DAUA1 9.66 30.25 -88.07 6 WSW CASTLEBERRY CONECUH AL-CC-1 9.31 31.27 -87.12 6 S REPTON CONECUH AL-CC-2 7.89 31.33 -87.24 10 NW GEORGIANA BUTLER AL-BT-2 7.37 31.72 -86.88 9 WNW TILLMANS CORNER MOBILE AL-MB-63 5.59 30.61 -88.33 1 NNE CAMDEN WILCOX AL-WX-2 4.65 32.02 -87.29 8 W URIAH MONROE AL-MN-3 4.54 31.29 -87.64 MOBILE REGIONAL AIRPORT MOBILE KMOB 3.56 30.69 -88.25 5 SSW THOMASVILLE CLARKE AL-CK-10 2.92 31.84 -87.77 D. INLAND FLOODING... --------------------------------------------------------------------- BALDWIN...THE FISH RIVER AND STYX RIVER REACHED MAJOR FLOOD STAGE. FLOODING WAS WIDESPREAD, ESPECIALLY ACROSS SOUTHERN BALDWIN COUNTY WHERE 20-30" OF RAIN FELL. NUMEROUS WATER RESCUES WERE CONDUCTED DURING THE EVENT. THE FLOODING WAS EXACERBATED BY THE STORM SURGE AS ALL OF THE RAIN THAT FELL HAD NOWHERE TO DRAIN. ESCAMBIA FL...FLOODING WAS WIDESPREAD, ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF ESCAMBIA COUNTY WHERE THERE WAS 20-30" OF RAIN. THE FLOODING WAS COMPOUNDED BY THE STORM SURGE. DOWNTOWN PENSACOLA HAD SIGNIFICANT FRESHWATER FLOODING AND RESULTED IN 2 TO 4 FEET OF WATER IN DOWNTOWN, EVEN WHERE THE STORM SURGE DID NOT REACH. THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF WATER RESCUES DURING THE STORM. SANTA ROSA...FLOODING WAS WIDESPREAD ESPECIALLY ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SANTA ROSA COUNTY. 20" OF RAIN WAS REPORTED ALONG THE COAST AND LOCALIZED TOTALS COULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER. THE FRESHWATER FLOODING WAS COMPOUNDED BY THE STORM SURGE, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE BLACKWATER RIVER AND YELLOW RIVER. OKALOOSA...THE SHOAL RIVER AND BLACKWATER RIVER REACHED MAJOR FLOOD STAGE DURING THE EVENT. THE I-10 BRIDGE OVER THE SHOAL RIVER WAS CLOSED FOR A TIME. FLOODING WAS WIDESPREAD AS 10-20" OF RAIN WAS REPORTED ACROSS THE COUNTY AND LOCALIZED TOTALS OVER 20" COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE FRESHWATER FLOODING PRODUCED BY THE HEAVY RAIN WAS COMPOUNDED ALONG COASTAL AREAS BY THE STORM SURGE. ESCAMBIA AL...PARTS OF BREWTON EXPERIENCED FLOODING DUE TO THE MURDER CREEK WHICH REACH MODERATE FLOOD STAGE DURING THE EVENT. 10-20" OF RAIN OCCURRED ACROSS THE COUNTY WHICH RESULTED IN FLASH FLOODING. 10 COUNTY ROADS BECAME IMPASSABLE DURING THE STORM. SOME OF THE ROADS AND A COUPLE OF BRIDGES SUFFERED WASHOUTS. CRENSHAW...SIGNIFICANT FLOODING OCCURRED, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHERN CRENSHAW COUNTY. OVER 10" OF RAIN FELL AS A RESULT OF THE STORM. THERE WAS ONE SWIFT WATER RESCUE IN THE DRY CREEK AREA ON HIGHWAY 331 JUST NORTH OF BRANTLEY. SEVERAL ROADS WERE FLOODED WITH SOME DAMAGED. COVINGTON...10-15" OF RAIN FELL ACROSS COVINGTON COUNTY. NUMEROUS ROADS WERE FLOODED AND SOME ROADS EXPERIENCED WASH OUTS FROM THE FLASH FLOODING. BUTLER...A FEW ROADS WERE FLOODED FROM HEAVY RAIN. --------------------------------------------------------------------- E. MAXIMUM OBSERVED WATER LEVEL (WL)... --------------------------------------------------------------------- ID CITY/TOWN COUNTY STATE WL DATUM DATE/ SOURCE OR LOCATION (FT) TIME --------------------------------------------------------------------- DILA1 DAUPHIN ISLAND MOBILE AL 3.10 MHHW 15/1536 NOS 30.2500 -88.0750 BLBA1 BAYOU LA BATRE MOBILE AL 2.38 MHHW 15/1630 NOS 30.4057 -88.2477 WFRA1 W FOWL RIVER BR MOBILE AL 1.83 MHHW 15/1648 NOS 30.3766 -88.1586 EFRA1 E FOWL RIVER BR MOBILE AL 2.34 MHHW 15/1918 NOS 30.4437 -88.1139 BYSA1 DOG RIVER BRIDG MOBILE AL 1.99 MHHW 15/1748 NOS 30.5652 -88.0880 MCGA1 USCG SECTOR MOB MOBILE AL 1.95 MHHW 15/1654 NOS 30.6483 -88.0583 OBLA1 MOBILE STATE DO MOBILE AL 1.60 MHHW 15/1712 NOS 30.7083 -88.0433 CIKA1 CHICKASAW CREEK MOBILE AL 1.35 MHHW 15/1748 NOS 30.7819 -88.0736 WBYA1 WEEKS BAY BALDWIN AL 2.19 MHHW 16/1536 NOS 30.4169 -87.8254 PCLF1 PENSACOLA BAY ESCAMBIA FL 5.60 MHHW 16/1154 NOS 30.4044 -87.2112 FLOKA EAST PASS DESTI OKALOOSA FL 4.81 NAVD88 16/1210 USGS 30.3948 -86.5156 REMARKS: THE 5.60 FT MHHW WATER LEVEL PRODUCED BY HURRICANE SALLY AT PENSACOLA IS PRELIMINARILY THE 3RD HIGHEST WATER LEVEL ON RECORD FOR THAT LOCATION. THE ONLY HIGHER WATERS LEVELS WERE: 9.54 FT MHHW IN 2004 (HURRICANE IVAN) AND 7.42 FT MHHW IN 1926 (MIAMI HURRICANE). THE USGS RAPID DEPLOYMENT GAUGE AT EAST PASS DESTIN REPORTS IN NAVD88. NAVD88 IS NOT DIRECTLY TIED TO LEVELS OF INUNDATION. MHHW IS USED AS A PROXY FOR INUNDATION ABOVE NORMALLY DRY GROUND. STORM SURGE SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY NWS MOBILE REVEAL THAT MANY AREAS FROM GULF SHORES EASTWARD TO OKALOOSA COUNTY WERE IMPACTED BY 3-6 FEET OF SURGE INUNDATION. INUNDATION REACHED AS HIGH AS 7-9 FEET ACROSS PARTS OF ORANGE BEACH, PERDIDO KEY, AND THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF ESCAMBIA, BLACKWATER, AND EAST BAYS. THESE ARE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE FINE TUNED AND ADJUSTED AS DATA IS COLLECTED AND REVIEWED. F. TORNADOES... --------------------------------------------------------------------- (DIST)CITY/TOWN COUNTY DATE/ EF SCALE LAT LON (DEG DECIMAL) TIME(UTC) (IF KNOWN) DESCRIPTION --------------------------------------------------------------------- G. STORM IMPACTS BY COUNTY... --------------------------------------------------------------------- COUNTY DEATHS INJURIES EVACUATIONS DESCRIPTION --------------------------------------------------------------------- MOBILE 0 0 1 THERE WAS A RECOMMENDED EVACUATION FOR LOW LYING AND SURGE PRONE AREAS OF MOBILE COUNTY. THE GREATEST IMPACT OF SALLY IN MOBILE COUNTY WAS TO DAUPHIN ISLAND, WHICH WAS IMPACTED BY THE WESTERN EYEWALL OF SALLY FOR A LONG DURATION. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WITH GUSTS OVER 100 MPH WERE RECORDED ON THE ISLAND. WINDS WERE OUT OF THE NORTH, WHICH RESULTED IN THE BAY AND SOUND SIDE OF THE ISLAND BEING THE MOST IMPACTED. SEVERAL BUILDINGS EXPERIENCED ROOF AND SIDING DAMAGE, INCLUDING TO TWO BUILDINGS ON THE CAMPUS OF THE DAUPHIN ISLAND SEA LAB. ANOTHER HOME ON THE ISLAND LOST ITS ROOF ENTIRELY. A 3 TO 4 FOOT STORM SURGE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ISLAND RESULTED IN MAJOR DAMAGE TO DOCKS AND PIERS, INCLUDING AT THE DAUPHIN ISLAND MARINA. ACROSS MAINLAND MOBILE COUNTY, THE SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY EXPERIENCED A LONG DURATION OF SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS WITH HURRICANE FORCE WIND GUSTS RECORDED ALL THE WAY WEST AT THE MOBILE REGIONAL AIRPORT. IN FACT, THE 82 MPH GUST RECORDED AT THE AIRPORT WAS ALMOST AS HIGH AS THE PEAK GUST RECORDED IN HURRICANE KATRINA OF 83 MPH. NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES WERE DOWNED ACROSS THE COUNTY, ESPECIALLY IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE COUNTY. THIS RESULTED IN WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES. MOBILE`S BIENVILLE SQUARE SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE NUMEROUS OAKS IN THE AREA AND THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE REPORTED AT SOME BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN MOBILE. SEVERAL HOMES IN THE COUNTY ALSO EXPERIENCED ROOF, SIDING, AND FENCE DAMAGE. DOWNED TREES ALSO DAMAGED SOME HOMES. BALDWIN 3 0 1 A RECOMMENDED EVACUATION ORDER WAS ISSUED FOR LOW LYING FLOOD AND SURGE PRONE AREAS OF BALDWIN COUNTY. THE COUNTY EXPERIENCED WIDESPREAD DAMAGE AS THE EYE OF SALLY MOVED ACROSS A LARGE PORTION OF THE COUNTY AFTER MAKING LANDFALL IN GULF SHORES, AL. A LARGE STORM SURGE RESULTED IN WIDESPREAD INUNDATION AND MAJOR FLOOD DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES ALONG THE BACK BAY WATERS WITH LITTLE TO NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS ALONG THE GULF FACING BEACHES. THERE WAS A WALKWAY AT THE COTTON BAYOU GULF ACCESS THAT WAS DAMAGED. THE GREATEST SURGE OCCURRED EAST OF GULF SHORES ACROSS ORANGE BEACH TO THE FLORIDA STATE LINE AND ALL THE WAY NORTH INTO THE NORTHERN PORTION OF PERDIDO BAY. NUMEROUS LARGE BOATS WERE MOVED ONTO LAND BY THE SURGE. THE 20 TO 30 INCHES OF RAIN THAT FELL ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY CERTAINLY COMPOUNDED THE STORM SURGE FLOODING AND ALSO RESULTED IN WIDESPREAD FLASH FLOODING AND RIVER FLOODING. THE EYEWALL OF SALLY RESULTED IN WIDESPREAD AND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO TREES AND POWER LINES. SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN SOUTHERN BALDWIN COUNTY MEASURED SUSTAINED HURRICANE FORCE WINDS OF 75 TO 85 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 100 MPH. THE CENTER OF SEVERE WEATHER RESEARCH RECORDED A 123 MPH GUST ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PERDIDO PASS BRIDGE FROM AN ANEMOMETER ON THEIR MOBILE DOPPLER RADAR UNIT WITH SUSTAINED WINDS OF 93 MPH. NUMEROUS STRUCTURES WERE DAMAGED BY FALLEN TREES AND MANY STRUCTURES IN THE COUNTY SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT ROOF AND SIDING DAMAGE. IN FT. MORGAN, A FEW OLDER HOMES WERE DESTROYED AND A BOAT STORAGE FACILITY AT A MARINA SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE. ALMOST ALL OF THE COUNTY LOST POWER DURING THE STORM DUE TO SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE POWER INFRASTRUCTURE. THERE WERE THREE FATALITIES FROM THE STORM, ONE DIRECT AND TWO INDIRECT. A PERSON DROWNED IN ORANGE BEACH DURING THE STORM. ANOTHER FATALITY OCCURRED IN FOLEY DURING THE POST STORM CLEAN UP AND ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL DIED DUE TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING FROM A GENERATOR. ESCAMBIA FL 3 0 1 A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION WAS ISSUED FOR ZONE A. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WIND AND STORM SURGE RESULTED IN WIDESPREAD DAMAGE TO ESCAMBIA COUNTY. TO DATE, 1,756 STRUCTURES WERE DAMAGED. 44 STRUCTURES WERE DESTROYED AND 629 SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS RESULTED IN SIDING AND ROOF DAMAGE TO MANY STRUCTURES, WITH DOWNED TREES ALSO PLAYING A LARGE ROLE IN DAMAGE TO SOME STRUCTURES. POWER OUTAGES WERE WIDESPREAD. PENSACOLA NAS RECORDED SUSTAINED HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WITH GUSTS OF 92 MPH. A LARGE STORM SURGE IMPACTED THE COUNTY, WITH THE HIGHEST SURGE OCCURRING IN THE PERDIDO KEY AREA AND ALONG PORTIONS OF PENSACOLA AND ESCAMBIA BAYS. NUMEROUS STRUCTURES HAD SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE FROM STORM SURGE INUNDATION. NUMEROUS LARGE BOATS AND BARGES WERE MOVED ONTO LAND BY THE SURGE. A PORTION OF THE THREE MILE BRIDGE ACROSS PENSACOLA BAY COLLAPSED. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE STORM SURGE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE OCCURRED ALONG THE BACK BAYS AND SOUNDS AND NOT ALONG THE IMMEDIATE GULF FACING BEACHES. HOWEVER, SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OCCURRED ALONG THE GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE, PARTICULARLY IN THE JOHNSON BEACH AND FT. PICKENS AREA. ON JOHNSON BEACH, THE SURGE AND WAVE ACTION TOOK OUT A LARGE PORTION OF THE FIRST LINE OF DUNES WITH DAMAGE EVEN NOTED TO SOME OF THE SECOND LINE DUNES. 4 TO 5 FT OF SAND COVERED JOHNSON BEACH ROAD WITH DAMAGE TO THE ROAD ITSELF. NOAA AERIAL IMAGERY INDICATES THAT 3 NEW CUTS WERE CREATED ON THE FAR EAST SIDE OF JOHNSON BEACH. THE SURGE ALONG THE GULF SIDE OF PERDIDO KEY WAS ALSO NOTABLE AS THE WATER LINE ENCROACHED UPON THE ENTRANCE OF SOME OF THE CONDOS AND DAMAGED WALKWAYS AND POOLS. THE COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF RAIN ALSO COMPOUNDED THE STORM SURGE ISSUE AS WATER THAT NORMALLY WOULD DRAIN INTO AREA BAYS, RIVERS, CREEKS, AND STREAMS HAD NOWHERE TO GO DUE TO THE INCOMING STORM SURGE. DOWNTOWN PENSACOLA WAS ONE NOTABLE AREA HARD HIT BY THIS FRESH WATER FLOODING, BUT COUNTLESS OTHER LOCATIONS, ESPECIALLY ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ESCAMBIA COUNTY, WERE ALSO HARD HIT BY THIS FLOODING. THERE WERE 3 REPORTED FATALITIES, TWO DIRECT AND ONE INDIRECT. ONE PERSON DIED WHILE TRYING TO RETRIEVE A BOAT DURING THE STORM AND ANOTHER PERSON DIED WHILE KAYAKING DURING THE STORM. ONE PERSON DIED AFTER THE STORM DUE TO CARBON MONOXIDE FROM A GENERATOR BEING RAN INDOORS. SANTA ROSA 0 0 1 A LARGE STORM SURGE HAD ITS GREATEST IMPACT ON THE SOUND AND BAY SIDES OF SANTA ROSA COUNTY. THE LARGEST SURGE OCCURRED IN THE NORTHERN HALF OF ESCAMBIA BAY AS WELL AS IN BLACKWATER AND EAST BAY. NUMEROUS HOMES SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT INUNDATION FROM THE SURGE. THE SURGE FLOODING WAS COMPOUNDED BY 20+ INCHES OF RAIN THAT FELL WHICH ALSO RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT TO MAJOR FLASH FLOODING AND RIVER FLOODING. HURRICANE FORCE WIND GUSTS ALSO RESULTED IN ROOF AND SIDING DAMAGE TO MANY HOMES, EXTENSIVE DOWNED TREES, AND POWER LINES. TO DATE, AROUND 1,400 RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS BEING IMPACTED WITH 6 BEING DESTROYED AND 139 SUFFERING MAJOR DAMAGE. 19 COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED AS BEING IMPACTED WITH MAJOR DAMAGE TO 4 BUILDINGS. A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION WAS ISSUED FOR ZONE A. OKALOOSA 0 0 0 A LONG DURATION OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS IMPACTED OKALOOSA COUNTY AS THE CENTER OF HURRICANE SALLY TRACKED VERY SLOWLY TO THE EAST AND NORTH OF THE COUNTY. SIGNIFICANT STORM SURGE IMPACTED COASTAL AREAS, ESPECIALLY IN WESTERN PARTS OF OKALOOSA COUNTY CLOSER TO THE SANTA ROSA LINE. MANY HOMES ON THE SOUND SIDE OF THE MARY ESTHER AREA WERE INUNDATED BY THE SURGE FLOODING. PORTIONS OF HIGHWAY 98 ON OKALOOSA ISLAND WERE BREACHED BY THE SURGE FLOODING, HOWEVER THE ROAD WAS NOT DAMAGED. A 2 FT SEAWALL WAS BREACHED IN FT. WALTON BEACH WITH 2 TO 3 FT OF WATER COVERED ADJACENT PORTIONS OF HIGHWAY 98. WALKOVERS AND BEACH SIDE DOCKS WERE DISPLACED ON THE GULF SIDE. A FEW RESTAURANTS AND HOMES SUFFERED SOME FLOODING ALONG CALHOUN AVENUE, LIKELY FROM A COMBINATION OF THE TORRENTIAL RAINFALL AND STORM SURGE. THE COPIOUS RAINFALL ALSO RESULTED IN FLASH FLOODING AND MAJOR RIVER FLOODING, WHICH ALSO FLOODED HOMES IN THE COUNTY. ESCAMBIA AL 0 0 0 WIDESPREAD TREES WERE DOWNED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. SOME OF THE TREES FELL ONTO HOMES, BUT MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS MINOR. HOWEVER, 4 HOMES SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE FROM THE FALLEN TREES. AT THE PEAK OF THE EVENT, 85% OF THE COUNTY WAS WITHOUT POWER. TORRENTIAL RAINFALL OF 10 TO 20 INCHES LED TO FLASH FLOODING AND RIVER FLOODING, RESULTING IN THE 10 COUNTY ROADS BECOMING IMPASSABLE DURING THE STORM. SOME OF THE ROADS SUFFERED WASH OUTS. A COUPLE OF BRIDGES EXPERIENCED WASH OUTS AS WELL. COVINGTON 0 0 0 FIVE HOMES SUFFERED WIND DAMAGE AS TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS IMPACTED COVINGTON COUNTY. TREES AND POWER LINES WERE DOWNED WHICH RESULTED IN SOME POWER OUTAGES. NUMEROUS ROADS WERE FLOODED AND IMPASSABLE. SEVERAL ROADS ALSO SUFFERED WASH OUTS DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE FLOODING. CRENSHAW 0 0 0 TROPICAL STORM FORCE WIND GUSTS DOWNED SOME TREES AND POWER LINES IN THE COUNTY. SIGNIFICANT FLOODING ALSO OCCURRED, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTY. NUMEROUS ROADS WERE IMPASSABLE AND SOME EXPERIENCED WASHOUTS. MONROE 0 0 0 TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS DOWNED NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES ACROSS MONROE COUNTY. CLARKE 0 0 0 TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS DOWNED TREES ACROSS THE COUNTY. ONE TREE FELL ONTO A HOME IN GROVE HILL, RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. CONECUH 0 0 0 TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES IN THE COUNTY. BUTLER 0 0 0 TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY. A FEW HOMES SUFFERED MINOR DAMAGE FROM FALLEN TREES. SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES WERE REPORTED. A FEW ROADS WERE FLOODED FROM HEAVY RAIN. $$ LEGEND: I-INCOMPLETE DATA E-ESTIMATED BEAMAN
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Acknowledgements: Page created by Morgan Barry (forecaster), Don Shepherd (lead forecaster), Jason Beaman (Warning Coordination Meteorologist), & Joe Maniscalco (Observation Program Leader). Updated by Michael Mugrage (Forecaster).
LAST UPDATED: March 2024