From Bill Murray:

Atmore mayor reports significant structural damage from initial feeder band earlier today. Several buildings unroofed. Ruptured gas main. power out to most of town. Mayor believes it was a tornado. not as bad as ivan, but still bad. State Troopers patrolling town. No injuries. - from a live interview on WKRG TV

Large part of Navarre pier destroyed per WKRG, but damage in Santa Rosa County reportedly less than was expected

Lots of high winds tonight...
Gusts to 62 mph atop Mt. Cheaha
Trees and power lines down in Randolph County
EMA reports numerous trees and power lines down in Tuscaloosa County
Tree limbs down in Moundville(North Hale County)
Numerous trees down in Sumter County

Dennis was moving northward through SW and West Alabama tonight
He will be in NE Mississippi Monday
2.23 inches of rain at 3340 (Riverchase) as of 8:45 pm
Tornado Watch still in effect until 11pm
Flash Flood Warnings still in effect formuch of the area
Tuscaloosa-Birmingham-Anniston weather should calm own after midnight

.....Dennis passing through Monroe County just before 7.
.....highest sustained winds near 80 mph
.....He was moving NNW at 21 mph
.....Should be in West Central Alabama after midnight
.....winds could reach gusts of hurricane force especially in West Alabama
.....Still lots of rain to fall
.....Flash Flood warnings numerous counties
.....Tornado Watch for south 2/3 of state till 11 pm

.....numerous trees reported down in West Alabama's Sumter County
.....trees and power lines down in Randolf County, East Alabama
.....windy over most of the state now
.....wind gust to 44 mph at Evergreen
.....NWS reports 82 shelters open statewide
.....approxmately 1500 people in those shelters

NWS reports multiple roads under 4 to 5 feet of water near the Rutherford community in Russell County around 3:30 pm.

.....Gusts to 43 mph at Talladega and atop Birmingham's Legion Field.

You caused thousands of vacation plans to be change.

You caused the second largest evacuation in USA history. Only Hurricane Floyd caused more.You came ashore atmid-afternoon today causing a wind gust of 131 mph east of Pensacola.

Surely, there was major damage where you came ashore.

And, we are not through with you.

No sleep tonight.

The NHC believes that hurricane force winds will occur tonight as far as 10-150miles inland. This will be especially true over the South, SW and West Central Counties.

And more flash floods. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the entire state.

And those spinoff tornadoes. A Tornado Watch is in effect until 11 tonight for the south 2/3w of Alabama.

A Tornado Warning for Escambia County in extreme South Alabama.That is where the center of Dennis was just before 5 pm.

Heavy rain was spreading northward. At Weogufka, Coosa County, 1.68 inches of rain thyis afternoon including 0.35 in only seven minutes.

Dennis effect is widespread. A Tornado Warning for the Atlanta Metro area.

Hurricane Dennis is now onshore in Extreme NW Florida.
He came ashorejust east of Pensacola Beach.
He willcontinue northward.

Destin reported SE winds gusting to 74 mph before landfall and Valpariso gusts to 83 mph

Dennis will be on land soon.
At 1:40 pm, he was getting close to the border ofAlabama and Florida between Pensacola and Orange Beach. The north edge of the eyewall could be on the beach not later than 2:30.

Check these reports:

Pensacola...heavy rain, wind NE 33, gusts 55 mph
Valparasio...heavy rain, wind east 36, gusts 56
Destin...rain, wind east 45, gusts 66
Panama City...rain, wind gusts 45
Tallahassee...light rain, wind SE 30, gusts 43

A Tornado Watch now covers the south 2/3 ofAlabama including the Tuscaloosa/Birmingham area.

Important: The NHC warns that Dennis may spread hurricane force winds as far as 175 miles inland.

Mobile...rain, wind north 25, gusts 33 mph
Dothan...heavy rain, wind east 24, gusts 56 mph
Valparaiso...rain wind NE 35, gusts 45
Panama City...rain,wind east 28, gusts 39
Destin...heavy rain, wind NE 35, gusts 46

Weather Buoys in the Northeast Gulf report waves as high as 28 feet well offshore.

The latest advisory on Dennis places him about 55 miles south of Pensacola moving northward at some 18 mph. This means landfall could come as early as 2:30 or 3 pm, CDT.

Sustained winds about 135 mph near the center.
Should be a borderline Category 3 or 4 at landfall.

The NHC warns that Dennis could produce hurricane force winds as far as 175miles inland. That means bad news for inland Alabama. Since Dennis is expected to move northward across SW Alabama and up into East Mississippi much of West Alabama will be subject to hurricane force winds and for a duration of several hours

Flash flooding and a risk of spinoff tornadoes also.

Rainfall inland of 4 to8 inches not out of the question.

We have maintained our position in Foley this morning, anticipating the next move of extremely dangerous Huricane Dennis.

The eye of the tightly wound storm is showing up clearly on the Mobile radar, some 85 miles southeast of Gulf Shores at 10:45 a.m. It is generally on a NNW or NW course. A more northwesterly course will carry it to Gulf Shores. A more NNW course will carry it to Pensacola. Wherever it makes landfall, there will be significant damage.

The most recent recon report was encouraging, with a rise in the central pressure to 937 millibars.

At 10:45 a.m., we are experiencing moderate rain and a NE wind averaging 20-25 mph and frequently gusting occasionally over 30 mph. The pressure here is dropping rapidly now, down to 29.44 inches. The temperature has risen from 73F to 78F in the last hour.

The strongest feeder band should arrive here about 12:30 p.m., giving us our first hurricane force winds. The eyewall shoud arrive around 3 p.m.

Dennis will be arriving near the time of high tide. High tide is around noon at Pensacola and about 1:30 at Fort Morgan. This may add to the storm sure that is expected to be 10-15 feet.

We will have frequent reports from here as the afternoon wears on.