Here’s a Look at Irma’s Potential Wind Impacts in Alabama

Hurricane Irma is expected to move through the Florida Big Bend area tomorrow morning and into Southwest Georgia. Tomorrow evening, the center is forecast to move into East Central Alabama. The official track will bring it generally up US-280 overnight until it is in the vicinity of Birmingham early Tuesday morning. It then will move into Northwest Alabama during the day and into North Mississippi Wednesday morning. It will be in West Tennessee by Wednesday night.

Tropical storm warnings cover the eastern half of Alabama from Blount, Etowah and Cherokee COunties all the way to the South. A tropical storm watch is in effect for Northeast Alabama.

The forecasted winds will cause large tree limbs to fall, some trees to be uprooted and power lines to come down. Lots of people could lose power. Travel will become hazardous during the peak winds.

Based on the current track, winds over Central Alabama will be strong tomorrow through Tuesday morning based on your location. If the track changes (stays over land a little more, doesn’t track into Central Alabama, the intensity weakens a bit more), the winds could be a little less in Alabama. Let’s hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.

These graphics are based on the European model. They could be a shade high based on the second landfall in Marco Island.

Here is a look at the winds that could affect Alabama:

MONDAY PREDAWN
Winds will average 15-20 mph over the southeastern half of the area. Winds will gust to 20-35 mph at times. The stronger winds will be just coming into SE Alabama, with gusts over 45 mph.

Click image to enlarge

MONDAY MORNING
Winds will average 15-30 mph across Central Alabama, with the strongest winds over the southeast part of the area. Winds will gust to 20-30 mph northwest of Birmingham, with 30-35 mph southeast of Birmingham. Winds will gust to 50-60 mph over southeastern portions of the area.

Click image to enlarge.

MONDAY AFTERNOON
Winds will be averaging 20-30 mph across Central Alabama. Peak gusts will range from 35-45 in Birmingham. For Gadsden, Anniston and points east, gusts of 50-60 mph are likely with a few gusts close to hurricane force near the Georgia border in southeastern parts of Central Alabama.

Click image to enlarge.

MONDAY EVENING
Winds will average 12-25 mph across much of the area with the center near Alex City. Gusts could reach 45-55 mph during the evening.

Click image to enlarge.

TUESDAY MORNING
Winds should diminish as the center moves into northern Mississippi. It will be breezy and winds could still gust to 25-35 mph.

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS