Extra Notes from the Gulf

There will be an increasing number of posts on this weather BLOG over the next several days concerning the potential across the Gulf of Mexico and along the coast. At mid-morning, the Tropical Depression was passing close to 200 miles south of Apalachicola, Florida. It was centered over the East/Central Gulf. It is too early to tell if this will become a named tropical storm. If it does, it will be named Danielle. Regardless, there will be some changeable weather all along the Gulf Coast. Tropical Storm Warnings have already beeen posted from Destin on the NW Florida coast to Intracoastal City, Louisiana. Here are some spot forecasts, excerpts from the NWS official forecasts:

GULF SHORES, ORANGE BEACH, DESTIN
A Tropical Storm Warning through 6:00 p.m. Thursday. East winds should increase with gusts to 30 mph this afternoon and as high as 50 mph by Thursday. Showers and thunderstorms will become numerous after midnight tonight and through much of Friday.

BILOXI, GULFPORT, BAY ST. LOUIS, PASCAGOULA, OCEAN SPRINGS
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for all of the Mississippi coast. Additionally, a Flash Flood Watch is posted for late tonight through Friday evening. Expect a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms today. They will become even more numerous after midnight and east winds will be up to 30 mph. Rain and thunderstorms will continue Thursday with heavy rain at times along with thunderstorms. East winds will increase to 25 to 45 mph Thursday afternoon with winds up to 50 mph expected Friday night. Still a good chance of showers and thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday.

NEW ORLEANS AND LOUISIANA COASTAL AREAS
A Tropical Storm Warning and also a Flash Flood Warning from late tonight through Friday evening. Showers and storms becoming numerous after midnight and continuing Thursday and Friday. Still a good chance of showers and storms Saturday and Sunday. It will become very windy with 60 mph gusts possible Thursday night.

SPOT REPORTS
…..A buoy report in the East Gulf some 140 miles SE of Pensacola: water temperature 87, SE wind of 15-20 and 6-foot waves
…..12 miles south of Orange Beach: water temperature of 87, S wind gusting to 20-25 mph, 5-foot waves.
…..East Gulf of Mexico: water temperature 87, SW wind gusts to 27
…..East Dauphin Island: 82 degrees air temperature, NE wind gusts 20-25
…..Pensacola Bay: water temperature 88
…..Mobile Bay: water temperature 90

You can see from those reports there is not much going on at the moment but tropical systems could not ask for better water temperatures. We will follow this story through the weekend with updates as needed. It does appear that this system will give much of Alabama some much needed rain. The center may go ashore in SE Louisiana and then curve north and finally NE. This will set up a SE wind flow across much of Alabama.

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