8 a.m. Update: Winds Still Gusting to Hurricane Force in Mobile; Damage Reports

The center of Hurricane Sally is partially inland over Baldwin County, Alabama and Escambia County, Florida.

Winds are calming a bit in Pensacola, but they have had a significant storm surge there with 5.5 feet of water in downtown Pensacola, ranking only behind Hurricane Ivan in 2004 (9.54′) and the 1926 Huurrricne (7.42′).

Winds are still gusting to hurricane force at Brookley Field in Mobile. At 7:43 a.m., winds gusted to 74 mph.

Winds just gusted to 73 mph at the Mobile Airport at 7:56 a.m.

There are nunmerous reports of damaged buildings, widespread flooding, water in buildings, washed up boats on roadways, and partial building destruction in Gulf Shores, Romar Beach, and Orange Beaech.

There are numerous trees down across Mobile, Baldwin, and into the Panhandle Counties. Numerous trees down and roof damage in West Mobile.

Here is the 8 a.m. update from the Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Sally Tropical Cyclone Update
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL192020
800 AM CDT Wed Sep 16 2020

…HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS SPREADING INLAND OVER SOUTHEASTERN
ALABAMA AND THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE…
…CATASTROPHIC AND LIFE-THREATENING FLOODING LIKELY ALONG
PORTIONS OF THE NORTH-CENTRAL GULF COAST…

A wind gust of 81 mph (130 km/h) has been observed at the Pensacola
Naval Air Station, in Pensacola, Florida within the past hour.

A wind gust of 74 mph (120 km/h) has been reported at the
Mobile Downtown Airport, in Mobile, Alabama, within the past
hour or so.

SUMMARY OF 800 AM CDT…1300 UTC…INFORMATION
———————————————-
LOCATION…30.5N 87.6W
ABOUT 20 MI…30 KM NNE OF GULF SHORES ALABAMA
ABOUT 25 MI…40 KM W OF PENSACOLA FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…90 MPH…150 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NNE OR 20 DEGREES AT 3 MPH…6 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…970 MB…28.64 INCHES

$$
Forecaster Brown

Category: ALL POSTS, Tropical