Overview of Hurricane Sally
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Please note, data provided on this webpage is also considered preliminary. Finalized data will be available in the final National Hurricane Center Report.
Hurricane Sally made landfall early on the morning of September 16 across Gulf Shores Alabama. While the greatest impacts for Hurricane Sally struck outside our forecast area, in portions of the western Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama, we were not spared from Sally's damage. The greatest impacts to our forecast area came in the form of very heavy rain, flooding on and away from area rivers, and many tornado warnings.
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| Satellite Imagery of Hurricane Sally as it was about to make landfall near Gulf Shores, AL. This image was taken around 4:00am CT. | Radar imagery of Hurricane Sally approximately at 3:30am ET on September 16th. This was about 2 hours before landfall. The outer rain bands is what caused the most significant impacts to our region in the form of flooding rain and many tornado warnings. This image (from our Twitter page) was highlighting the increased potential for tornadoes as the bands rotated onshore. | A complete radar loop of Hurricane Sally as it came into US Weather Radar range. This animated image shows the many hours of rain that the region was under. |
Storm History
Information is preliminary and could change with the release of the National Hurricane Center's final report of Hurricane Sally (found here when available).
Hurricane Sally began as a tropical wave off the eastern Bahamas around September 9. Tropical weather outlooks regarding it's potential development indicated a 10% chance for development as it was poorly organized initially. On September 10, additional tropical weather outlooks indicated the potential for devleopment had increased. About twenty-four hours later, on September 11, this wave would eventually became a tropical depression with the 5pm advisory.
Sally would remain disorganized and moderately sheared for much of its trip across the Florida Peninsula into the Gulf of Mexico. As steering currents collapsed, Sally slowed significantly and this set up the stage for a historic flooding event across the Florida Panhandle and into Alabama. Sally would slowly move north the 36 to 48 hours before landfall. As it neared the coast its motion became northeast and eventually made landfall around 445am CDT on September 16th near Gulf Shores, Alabama. Sally's continued slow motion after landfall allowed even more rainfall to fall across Alabama and the Florida Panhandle...leading to record high river levels at many sites which are still extremely high at this time.
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| Tropical Weather Outlook, from the National Hurricane Center a little more than 24 hours before it's development into a tropical depression. At this time it was located just off the eastern coast of the Florida Peninsula. | Path of Sally as it first developed into a tropical depression off the eastern Florida Peninsula. Development was slow as it entered the Gulf, but it rapidly strengthened in the 12 hours prior to landfall, nearly becoming a major hurricane (by wind standards). Notice the slow forward speed a day before landfall. This is what increased the magnitude of impacts across the region. |
Local Post Tropical Cyclone Report
National Hurricane Center's Tropical Cyclone Report (This link won't work until report is published).
Reports from neighboring offices will be included here when available: NWS Mobile Sally Webpage
Wind
Information These wind reports are considered preliminary, a final listing of maximum winds will be listed in NHC's final tropical report after the end of the season.
The wind reports below are preliminary and include the highest winds at a specific site through Thursday morning. The time of the observation is approximately when that wind gust occurred.
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Tallahassee FL 914 AM EDT Thu Sep 17 2020 ...HIGHEST WIND REPORTS LAST 48 HOURS... Location Speed Time/Date Lat/Lon ...Alabama... ...Coffee County... Enterprise 43 MPH 1215 PM 09/16 31.30N/85.90W Ft Rucker Shell 40 MPH 1021 AM 09/16 31.37N/85.85W Kinston 33 MPH 0246 AM 09/16 31.22N/86.17W Elba 33 MPH 0715 PM 09/16 31.41N/86.09W ...Dale County... Ozark Cairns Aaf 45 MPH 1226 PM 09/16 31.28N/85.72W Molinelli Army Heliport 45 MPH 0935 AM 09/16 31.48N/85.78W Ft Rucker Hanche 44 MPH 0113 PM 09/16 31.35N/85.65W Dothan 39 MPH 1244 PM 09/16 31.32N/85.45W Fort Rucker 32 MPH 0516 PM 09/16 31.35N/85.75W ...Houston County... Rehobeth 33 MPH 0100 PM 09/16 31.09N/85.46W ...Florida... ...Bay County... 2.1 N Magnolia Beach (WEATHE 54 MPH 1110 AM 09/16 30.19N/85.72W Tyndall AFB 54 MPH 0201 PM 09/16 30.07N/85.57W Panama City 51 MPH 1019 AM 09/16 30.35N/85.80W Panama City Beach 49 MPH 0807 AM 09/16 30.23N/85.88W Southport 40 MPH 0700 PM 09/16 30.31N/85.61W Panama City 37 MPH 0253 PM 09/16 30.20N/85.67W Panama City 37 MPH 0640 PM 09/16 30.12N/85.59W 3.3 S Crystal Lake (WEATHERS 35 MPH 1140 AM 09/16 30.39N/85.69W Panama City 30 MPH 1116 AM 09/16 30.15N/85.63W ...Dixie County... Cross City 30 MPH 0355 PM 09/16 29.63N/83.10W ...Franklin County... Apalachicola 54 MPH 0956 AM 09/16 29.73N/85.03W St. George Island 53 MPH 1214 PM 09/16 29.67N/84.86W Apalachicola, FL 45 MPH 1030 AM 09/16 29.73N/84.98W ...Gadsden County... Quincy 32 MPH 0135 PM 09/16 30.60N/84.55W ...Gulf County... 0.5 NE Port Saint Joe (WEATH 40 MPH 0210 PM 09/16 29.81N/85.29W 0.5 NW Ward Ridge (WEATHERST 36 MPH 1130 PM 09/15 29.79N/85.29W ...Holmes County... Holmes County Airport 33 MPH 0527 AM 09/16 30.83N/85.60W ...Jackson County... Marianna 35 MPH 0935 AM 09/16 30.83N/85.18W 1.5 E Marianna (WEATHERSTEM) 32 MPH 0950 AM 09/16 30.78N/85.22W Sneads (WEATHERSTEM) 32 MPH 1040 AM 09/16 30.71N/84.92W 1.2 NE Graceville (WEATHERST 30 MPH 0940 AM 09/16 30.97N/85.51W ...Lafayette County... 0.6 E Mayo (WEATHERSTEM) 41 MPH 0410 PM 09/16 30.05N/83.17W ...Leon County... Tallahassee International Ai 40 MPH 0326 PM 09/16 30.40N/84.35W Kleman Plaza (WEATHERSTEM) 39 MPH 0340 PM 09/16 30.44N/84.28W 2.0 SW Killearn Estates (WEA 39 MPH 0120 PM 09/16 30.49N/84.25W Doak Campbell Stadium (WEATH 37 MPH 0120 PM 09/16 30.44N/84.30W State Capital Complex (WEATH 37 MPH 0120 PM 09/16 30.44N/84.28W 0.5 SW Southwood (WEATHERSTE 34 MPH 0340 PM 09/16 30.38N/84.22W 0.6 SE Forest Meadows Park ( 32 MPH 0130 PM 09/16 30.53N/84.27W 1.6 NW Fallschase (WEATHERST 30 MPH 0120 PM 09/16 30.48N/84.22W 1.1 N Lake Bradford (WEATHER 30 MPH 1230 PM 09/16 30.42N/84.34W ...Madison County... 2.8 N Cherry Lake (WEATHERST 32 MPH 0440 PM 09/16 30.62N/83.41W ...Taylor County... Keaton Beach 34 MPH 0600 PM 09/16 29.82N/83.59W ...Wakulla County... Shell Point (WEATHERSTEM) 54 MPH 0110 PM 09/16 30.06N/84.29W Shell Point 43 MPH 1254 PM 09/16 30.06N/84.29W Panacea 42 MPH 1246 PM 09/16 29.97N/84.36W St. Marks 39 MPH 0146 PM 09/16 30.01N/84.42W Tully (WEATHERSTEM) 33 MPH 1150 AM 09/16 30.11N/84.38W St. Marks 33 MPH 0314 PM 09/16 30.14N/84.14W ...Walton County... 0.7 S Port Washington (WEATH 38 MPH 0610 AM 09/16 30.36N/86.11W Santa Rosa Beach 38 MPH 0324 PM 09/16 30.35N/86.23W 1.6 E De Funiak Springs (WEA 37 MPH 0740 AM 09/16 30.72N/86.09W De Funiak Sprngs 36 MPH 0735 AM 09/16 30.73N/86.15W Mossy Head 32 MPH 0426 PM 09/16 30.81N/86.30W ...Georgia... ...Ben Hill County... 1.1 NE Fitzgerald Municipal 35 MPH 1110 PM 09/16 31.70N/83.26W ...Colquitt County... 0.6 W Spence Airport (WEATHE 30 MPH 0740 PM 09/16 31.14N/83.71W ...Decatur County... Bainbridge 32 MPH 1235 PM 09/16 30.97N/84.63W ...Dougherty County... Albany 37 MPH 0323 PM 09/16 31.53N/84.20W ...Early County... Blakely Early C 31 MPH 0335 PM 09/16 31.40N/84.90W ...Lowndes County... Valdosta Regiona 33 MPH 0500 PM 09/16 30.78N/83.27W Moody Afb 31 MPH 0357 AM 09/17 30.97N/83.20W ...Mitchell County... Camilla 34 MPH 0804 PM 09/16 31.21N/84.24W ...Seminole County... Donalsonville Airport 37 MPH 1235 PM 09/16 31.07N/84.92W ...Tift County... Tifton 31 MPH 0135 AM 09/17 31.43N/83.48W ...Florida... ...Maritime Stations... Panama City Beach, FL 60 MPH 0730 AM 09/16 30.21N/85.88W 2.9 S Eastpoint (WEATHERSTEM 57 MPH 1110 AM 09/16 29.71N/84.89W St. Andrew Bay 56 MPH 0231 PM 09/15 30.13N/85.72W 17 S Saint George Island 53 MPH 1200 PM 09/16 29.41N/84.86W Apalachee Bay - Panacea Chan 50 MPH 0104 PM 09/16 30.01N/84.34W Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.
Rainfall
Record levels of rainfall fell across much of the tri-state region as a result of Hurricane Sally. The image below highlights region rainfall estimates for rain that fell between Sunday night (September 13) and 2am Thursday morning (September 17th). This graphic is likely to be updated with additional rain that fell on Thursday. Please note, this only estimated via radar, localized amounts are likely higher than indicated in the graphic below.
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| Radar estimated rainfall during the duration of Hurricane Sally. This includes rain that fell between Sunday night and Thursday (Sep 17th) at 2am. Amounts will be updated to include additional rain that fell on Thursday. |
The latest Public Information Statement is below. This product shows observed rainfall at various gauges/locations for the 48 hours preceding Thursday morning. Storm total amounts are likely higher at some locations.
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Tallahassee FL 912 AM EDT Thu Sep 17 2020 ...48 HOUR PRECIPITATION REPORTS... Location Amount Time/Date Lat/Lon ...Alabama... ...Coffee County... Ft Rucker Shell 8.60 in 0858 AM 09/17 31.37N/85.85W Enterprise 7.11 in 0855 AM 09/17 31.30N/85.90W Elba 5.82 in 0846 AM 09/17 31.41N/86.09W 1.3 E New Brockton 3.18 in 0800 AM 09/16 31.38N/85.90W ...Dale County... Enterprise 3.8 ESE 10.17 in 0800 AM 09/17 31.30N/85.79W 1.4 S Lowe Army Heliport 8.44 in 0301 AM 09/17 31.34N/85.75W Ozark Cairns Aaf 5.73 in 0856 AM 09/17 31.28N/85.72W Ft Rucker Hanche 5.59 in 0858 AM 09/17 31.35N/85.65W Dothan 5.29 in 0853 AM 09/17 31.32N/85.45W Fort Rucker 4.41 in 0858 AM 09/17 31.35N/85.75W ...Geneva County... Geneva 11.25 in 0800 AM 09/17 31.04N/85.87W Geneva 3.53 in 0650 AM 09/16 31.06N/85.82W ...Henry County... Edwin 6.29 in 0846 AM 09/17 31.65N/85.35W Headland 5.31 in 0858 AM 09/17 31.34N/85.36W Headland 4.19 in 0845 AM 09/17 31.36N/85.33W ...Houston County... Rehobeth 2.1 SSW 7.84 in 0800 AM 09/17 31.09N/85.46W Rehobeth 6.07 in 0905 AM 09/17 31.09N/85.46W Dothan 3.84 in 0859 AM 09/17 31.21N/85.42W ...Florida... ...Bay County... Southport 17.56 in 0900 AM 09/17 30.31N/85.61W Panama City Beach 0.3 SW 14.21 in 0700 AM 09/17 30.21N/85.86W Lower Grand Lagoon 2.2 NW 10.83 in 0800 AM 09/17 30.16N/85.78W Panama City 10.46 in 0903 AM 09/17 30.20N/85.67W Fountain 3.4 SSE 10.41 in 0755 AM 09/17 30.43N/85.40W Tyndall AFB 10.38 in 0856 AM 09/17 30.07N/85.57W Panama City 10.26 in 0753 AM 09/17 30.35N/85.80W Panama City 6.9 ESE 10.18 in 1259 AM 09/17 30.14N/85.57W Panama City Beach 4.4 ESE 9.99 in 0800 AM 09/16 30.18N/85.79W Panama City 7.75 in 0847 AM 09/17 30.15N/85.63W ...Calhoun County... Chipola River 10.05 in 1145 PM 09/16 30.53N/85.17W ...Franklin County... Apalachicola Airport 8.90 in 0855 AM 09/17 29.72N/85.03W Eastpoint 1.4 NW 6.21 in 0700 AM 09/17 29.76N/84.89W Apalachicola 0.8 WNW 3.93 in 0647 AM 09/15 29.73N/85.01W ...Gadsden County... Quincy 7.5 SSW 7.76 in 0800 AM 09/17 30.48N/84.62W Havana 4.2 SW 6.99 in 0700 AM 09/17 30.58N/84.47W 2 ESE Juniper 6.73 in 0855 AM 09/17 30.52N/84.72W Quincy 6.0 SW 3.21 in 0830 AM 09/16 30.52N/84.66W Quincy 6.0 SW 3.18 in 0800 AM 09/16 30.53N/84.66W ...Gulf County... Wewahitchka 8.30 in 0900 AM 09/16 30.12N/85.20W ...Holmes County... Holmes County Airport 7.54 in 0858 AM 09/17 30.83N/85.60W ...Jackson County... Marianna 3.9 E 9.99 in 0800 AM 09/17 30.77N/85.17W Blue Spring 9.79 in 0745 AM 09/17 30.79N/85.14W Marianna 0.8 NNE 9.59 in 0800 AM 09/17 30.78N/85.23W Woodruff Dam 9.14 in 0800 AM 09/17 30.71N/84.88W Marianna 7.48 in 0845 AM 09/17 30.81N/85.19W Marianna 7.44 in 0855 AM 09/17 30.77N/85.17W ...Jefferson County... Monticello 4.78 in 0901 AM 09/17 30.50N/84.04W Monticello 2.9 WSW 4.67 in 0700 AM 09/17 30.53N/83.92W Monticello 9.8 SW 4.22 in 0700 AM 09/17 30.44N/83.99W Monticello 1 NNE 4.22 in 0700 AM 09/17 30.56N/83.86W Monticello 4.3 ENE 3.54 in 0700 AM 09/17 30.56N/83.80W ...Leon County... Tallahassee 5.5 ENE 5.96 in 0700 AM 09/17 30.48N/84.19W Tallahassee 5.2 E 5.88 in 0700 AM 09/17 30.44N/84.19W Tallahassee 5.6 ESE 5.64 in 0700 AM 09/17 30.43N/84.19W Tallahassee 4.7 ENE 5.59 in 0700 AM 09/17 30.48N/84.21W Tallahassee 5.46 in 0846 AM 09/17 30.47N/84.26W Tallahassee 4.8 ESE 5.28 in 0700 AM 09/17 30.44N/84.20W Tallahassee 4.98 in 0855 AM 09/17 30.59N/84.24W Tallahassee International Ai 4.91 in 0853 AM 09/17 30.40N/84.35W Tallahassee 4.2 N 4.87 in 0700 AM 09/17 30.52N/84.28W Bloxham 4.85 in 0715 AM 09/17 30.36N/84.61W Tallahassee 5.1 NE 4.80 in 0700 AM 09/17 30.51N/84.22W Tallahassee 5.7 SE 4.63 in 0700 AM 09/17 30.39N/84.22W Tallahassee 5.0 SE 4.60 in 0600 AM 09/17 30.41N/84.22W Tallahassee 3.5 N 4.43 in 0800 AM 09/17 30.51N/84.28W Tallahassee 4.31 in 0855 AM 09/17 30.43N/84.28W Tallahassee 5.6 SE 4.15 in 0800 AM 09/17 30.39N/84.23W Tallahassee International A/ 4.02 in 0700 AM 09/17 30.40N/84.36W Tallahassee - PineyZ 3.86 in 0858 AM 09/17 30.44N/84.19W ...Liberty County... Wilma 9.59 in 0747 AM 09/17 30.18N/84.94W Hosford 2.7 SW 9.53 in 0700 AM 09/17 30.35N/84.82W Sumatra 8.69 in 0748 AM 09/17 30.02N/84.99W Telogia 2.5 SE 3.60 in 0700 PM 09/15 30.33N/84.78W ...Wakulla County... Crawfordville 1.0 S 7.54 in 0500 AM 09/17 30.18N/84.37W Sanborn 4.90 in 0719 AM 09/17 30.07N/84.59W St. Marks 4.77 in 0746 AM 09/17 30.01N/84.42W Crawfordville 4.14 in 0859 AM 09/17 30.13N/84.41W Panacea 3.82 in 0846 AM 09/17 29.97N/84.36W St. Marks 3.08 in 0714 AM 09/17 30.14N/84.14W ...Walton County... Santa Rosa Beach 17.65 in 0857 AM 09/17 30.35N/86.23W Miramar Beach 9.5 ESE 14.75 in 0800 AM 09/17 30.35N/86.20W De Funiak Springs 4.1 NNW 14.15 in 0800 AM 09/17 30.78N/86.14W De Funiak Springs 2.9 N 13.93 in 0800 AM 09/17 30.76N/86.12W De Funiak Springs 12.5 NW 12.75 in 0800 AM 09/17 30.84N/86.28W Inlet Beach 0.7 E 11.94 in 0900 AM 09/16 30.28N/86.00W 3 NNE Freeport 10.94 in 0900 AM 09/17 30.54N/86.12W Freeport 8.74 in 0854 AM 09/17 30.49N/86.19W De Funiak Sprngs 8.61 in 0855 AM 09/17 30.73N/86.15W Mossy Head 8.25 in 0856 AM 09/17 30.81N/86.30W ...Washington County... Vernon 10.6 WSW 10.34 in 0800 AM 09/16 30.57N/85.87W Sunny Hills 3.3 N 8.02 in 0800 AM 09/16 30.59N/85.58W Chipley 7.86 in 0845 AM 09/17 30.74N/85.59W ...Georgia... ...Baker County... 0.7 S Newton 6.80 in 0515 AM 09/17 31.31N/84.34W 2.3 SE Hoggard Mill 6.63 in 0700 AM 09/17 31.19N/84.45W Hoggard Mill 5.74 in 0700 AM 09/17 31.22N/84.47W 3.3 NW Hawkinstown 5.68 in 0800 AM 09/17 31.29N/84.49W Milford 5.33 in 0800 AM 09/17 31.38N/84.55W Elmodel Wma 4.15 in 0800 AM 09/17 31.35N/84.48W ...Brooks County... 3.4 E Barney 3.09 in 0815 AM 09/17 31.00N/83.46W ...Calhoun County... 1.2 W Dickey 4.96 in 0630 AM 09/17 31.55N/84.68W ...Colquitt County... Moultrie 6.2 SW 4.55 in 0700 AM 09/17 31.12N/83.86W ...Decatur County... Bainbridge 2.3 ESE 5.25 in 0730 AM 09/17 30.89N/84.54W Bainbridge 4.09 in 0855 AM 09/17 30.97N/84.63W 4.3 N Brinson 3.98 in 0545 AM 09/17 31.04N/84.74W Bainbridge 3.67 in 0545 AM 09/17 30.91N/84.58W ...Dougherty County... 1.6 NW East Albany 6.83 in 0830 AM 09/17 31.59N/84.14W Albany 7.3 W 5.73 in 0830 AM 09/17 31.58N/84.30W Albany 5.56 in 0853 AM 09/17 31.53N/84.20W ...Early County... Cedar Springs 5.34 in 0700 AM 09/17 31.18N/85.04W 2.3 S Columbia 4.56 in 0600 AM 09/17 31.26N/85.11W Damascus 4.01 in 0855 AM 09/17 31.30N/84.72W ...Grady County... Cairo 3.7 ESE 4.57 in 0356 AM 09/17 30.86N/84.15W Cairo 9.2 NNW 4.32 in 0700 AM 09/17 31.01N/84.25W ...Irwin County... 2.4 SW Irwinville 4.31 in 0645 AM 09/17 31.63N/83.42W ...Lee County... Starksville 6.60 in 0715 AM 09/17 31.78N/84.14W 1.9 S Philema 6.44 in 0730 AM 09/17 31.73N/84.02W 2.7 W Jordan Place 4.82 in 0700 AM 09/17 31.76N/84.25W ...Mitchell County... 5.3 S Hoggard Mill 4.85 in 0800 AM 09/17 31.14N/84.48W 2.7 S Camilla 4.66 in 0700 AM 09/17 31.19N/84.20W Camilla 2.8 SE 4.66 in 0700 AM 09/17 31.20N/84.17W Camilla 1.5 SSW 4.34 in 0830 AM 09/17 31.21N/84.22W Pelham 10.8 W 4.28 in 0700 AM 09/17 31.12N/84.33W Camilla 3.97 in 0804 AM 09/17 31.21N/84.24W Camilla 3.52 in 0900 AM 09/17 31.23N/84.20W ...Quitman County... 1.5 SE Crossroads 4.91 in 0700 AM 09/17 31.82N/84.97W ...Seminole County... Donalsonville Airport 4.40 in 0855 AM 09/17 31.07N/84.92W ...Terrell County... Sasser 0.2 WSW 3.95 in 0700 AM 09/17 31.72N/84.35W ...Thomas County... 3.7 SW Dawesville 6.54 in 0800 AM 09/17 30.88N/84.05W Thomasville 2.8 E 4.61 in 0800 AM 09/17 30.84N/83.93W 2.2 S Chastain 3.99 in 0800 AM 09/17 31.00N/83.94W Thomasville 3.51 in 0855 AM 09/17 30.83N/83.98W ...Tift County... 1.4 NE Hillsdale 3.47 in 0730 AM 09/17 31.48N/83.58W Tifton 2.0 ENE 3.41 in 0800 AM 09/17 31.48N/83.48W Tifton 1.4 ENE 3.23 in 0700 AM 09/17 31.47N/83.49W ...Turner County... Ashburn 3.64 in 0903 AM 09/17 31.71N/83.65W ...Worth County... Crisp Co Power Dam 5.36 in 0800 AM 09/17 31.85N/83.94W Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.
Storm Surge / Beach Erosion / River Flooding
Storm surge impacts were mostly limited to the Walton County coastline, but minor coastal flooding affected nearly our entire coastline. In addition high surf brought beach erosion to many local beaches. In addition to limited storm surge, the biggest impacts from Sally were near-record to record river flooding.
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