Late tonight, Tropical Storm Cindy, almost hurricane strength was moving onshore in Extreme SE Louisiana. Cindy was moving toward the NNE at 13 mph
She will turn more toward the NE during the next 24 hours tracking across SW, Central, and NE Alabama. She will weaken to tropical depression status but still producing plenty of rain.
A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for about the south half of Alabama. Rainfall up to 4 to 6 inches can be expected near the coast along with a few spinoff tornadoes.
Tropical Storm Dennis will become a hurricane within 72 hours and poses a much greater threat. Bu Sunday, he may be a significant hurricane in the Central Gulf. Landfall will be early in the week possibly with a serious threat to the Northern Gulf Coast. It is impossible to be more precise this far ahead.
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/tropics.hrb
The above link will give you all the information you need about Cindy and Dennis. We will resume more extensive discussions early Wednesday.
Wednesday-Thursday promises to be a very busy time!
Late Look at Cindy and Dennis
July 5, 2005, 9:44 pm
by J.B. Elliott
in Tropical Weather
Alabama Late Tonight
July 5, 2005, 9:24 pm
Showers over NE Alabama have diminished greatly. Only scattered light showers remain. The heavier ones now over NW Georgia.
Down near the coast, rain was spreading into Coastal and SW Alabama...the north part of the rain shield from Tropical Storm Cindy.
Cindy was moving inland into Extreme SE Louisiana late tonight. The center will curve NE crossing Central and NE Alabama Wednesday and Thursday, It will diminish to a depression but will still bring plenty of rain.
A Flash Flood Watch for about the South half of Alabama. This does not include the Birmingham Metro area at this time.
More extensive updates resume Wednesday morning.
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/tropics.hrb
Check the link above for the latest information for the remainder of tonight...and at any time. It has the latest information on both Cindy and Dennis.
Down near the coast, rain was spreading into Coastal and SW Alabama...the north part of the rain shield from Tropical Storm Cindy.
Cindy was moving inland into Extreme SE Louisiana late tonight. The center will curve NE crossing Central and NE Alabama Wednesday and Thursday, It will diminish to a depression but will still bring plenty of rain.
A Flash Flood Watch for about the South half of Alabama. This does not include the Birmingham Metro area at this time.
More extensive updates resume Wednesday morning.
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/tropics.hrb
Check the link above for the latest information for the remainder of tonight...and at any time. It has the latest information on both Cindy and Dennis.
Alabama Update and a Special Gadsden Area Report
July 5, 2005, 7:33 pm
Just before 8:30 tonight the heaviest rain had moved east and SE of the Gadsden area. In fact, some of the heaviest is over in NW Georgia. However, moderate rain, and in a few spots heavy, continues over a broad area from Lamar, Fayette, Winston and Walker Counties eastward to DeKalb, Cherokee and Cleburne Counties.
FOLLOW UP REPORT FROM ETOWAH COUNTY:
Flash flooding occurred in the Gadsden-Rainbow City area for the second afternoon and evening in a row. 2.33 inches of rain fell at the ABC 33/40 WeatherNet site in downtown Gadsden yesterday followed by 2.11 from tonight's storms. That is 4.44 inches for the two-day total.
Margie Richardson, a weather enthusiast from Rainbow City, reports 5 inches of rain in that area in less than two hours late this afternoon and this evening.
I spoke with Marie Bankson, the EMA Director for Etowah County. She was in telephone contact at the time with the Paradise Bowling Lanes in Rainbow City where an earlier report indicated one injury from a partial roof collapse due to the weight of heavy rain. The representative of the Bowling Lanes reports that it was not a part of their roof that collapsed. Instead, it was an awning over an entrance foyer. They also advised that there were no injuries.
The EMA Director reported that water rose into several vehicles in the Gadsden area during the storm. However, in Rainbow City only one street (Brown Avenue) was barricaded. She said that street floods easily.
FOLLOW UP REPORT FROM ETOWAH COUNTY:
Flash flooding occurred in the Gadsden-Rainbow City area for the second afternoon and evening in a row. 2.33 inches of rain fell at the ABC 33/40 WeatherNet site in downtown Gadsden yesterday followed by 2.11 from tonight's storms. That is 4.44 inches for the two-day total.
Margie Richardson, a weather enthusiast from Rainbow City, reports 5 inches of rain in that area in less than two hours late this afternoon and this evening.
I spoke with Marie Bankson, the EMA Director for Etowah County. She was in telephone contact at the time with the Paradise Bowling Lanes in Rainbow City where an earlier report indicated one injury from a partial roof collapse due to the weight of heavy rain. The representative of the Bowling Lanes reports that it was not a part of their roof that collapsed. Instead, it was an awning over an entrance foyer. They also advised that there were no injuries.
The EMA Director reported that water rose into several vehicles in the Gadsden area during the storm. However, in Rainbow City only one street (Brown Avenue) was barricaded. She said that street floods easily.
by J.B. Elliott
in Severe Weather
A Good Hard Look At Dennis
July 5, 2005, 6:45 pm
While we are preoccupied with Tropical Storm Cindy because she is so close, we must caution that Tropical Storm Dennis will eventually become much stronger and a much more serious problem.
At 7:00 p.m. tonight, Dennis was still growing stronger over the Central Caribbean. He was centered near latitude 14.3 N, longitude 68.5 W or about 385 miles SE of Port Au Prince, Haiti. He was moving WNW about 16 mph. Highest sustained winds were near 45 mph.
Let's look at the future of Dennis, because it is something we may have to be concerned with. The official track forecast brings Dennis toward the NW across the Northern and Western Caribbean crossing the western tip of Cuba and by Sunday afternoon he may be a strong hurricane over the East Central Gulf of Mexico. After that, parts of the North Central Gulf Coast may be under the gun by early in the week. This could be anywhere from NW Florida over to Louisiana.
Strictly a situation of having to watch, wait and worry.
Again, here is the link to all you need to know about the two tropical systems:
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/tropics.hrb
At 7:00 p.m. tonight, Dennis was still growing stronger over the Central Caribbean. He was centered near latitude 14.3 N, longitude 68.5 W or about 385 miles SE of Port Au Prince, Haiti. He was moving WNW about 16 mph. Highest sustained winds were near 45 mph.
Let's look at the future of Dennis, because it is something we may have to be concerned with. The official track forecast brings Dennis toward the NW across the Northern and Western Caribbean crossing the western tip of Cuba and by Sunday afternoon he may be a strong hurricane over the East Central Gulf of Mexico. After that, parts of the North Central Gulf Coast may be under the gun by early in the week. This could be anywhere from NW Florida over to Louisiana.
Strictly a situation of having to watch, wait and worry.
Again, here is the link to all you need to know about the two tropical systems:
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/tropics.hrb
by J.B. Elliott
in Tropical Weather
Trouble In Etowah County
July 5, 2005, 6:40 pm
The National Weather Service reports that one person has been injured because of a partial roof collapse at the Paradise Bowling Lanes in Rainbow City just south of Gadsden. The collapse was near the front door. This is due to extremely heavy rain that has been falling in that area.
A Flash Flood Warning was in effect at the time.
A Flash Flood Warning was in effect at the time.
by J.B. Elliott
in Severe Weather
Updating Cindy
July 5, 2005, 6:34 pm
Tropical Storm Cindy was moving toward the SE Louisiana coast early tonight. The northern part of the eye is visible on New Orleans radar.
QUICK FACTS:
LOCATION: Cindy was located at 7:00 p.m. CDT near latitude 28.5 N and longitude 90.3 west or about 170 miles SW of Alabama's Dauphin Island.
MOVEMENT: Cindy was moving toward the NE about 14 mph with an expected landfall somewhere around the mouth of the Mississippi River in extreme SE Louisiana. After landfall, Cindy will continue to move NE across Southern Mississippi tonight and into SW Alabama Wednesday.
WINDS: Highest sustained winds have increased slightly and are now near 70 mph with higher gusts. Some additional increase in strength is possible before landfall.
STORM SURGE FLOOD AND THE EFFECT OF STORM TIDES: Normal high tide will occur between 8 a.m. and Noon Wednesday. Combined with Cindy's surge, this could result in water levels of 3 to 5 feet above normal. This may flood some homes on the immediate coast where elevation is low. This is especially true on the barrier islands and on some inland bays and waterways. The increase tide levels could result in extensive washi-up and additional erosion along area beaches. Winds are expected to be strongest in the vicinity of Dauphin Island and diminish in strength as you go east toward the Florida Panhandle.
RIP CURRENTS: Dangerous rip currents are likely through Wednesday due to increasing surf and on-shore winds. People are discouraged from swimming, surfing and recreational boating until Cindy moves well inland.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS: Widespread rainfall amounts of 5 to 7 inches are likely with a few spots possibly getting as much as 10 inches through late Wednesday. The heaviest rain will occur north and east of Cindy's path. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the area through Wednesday. Further north, the National Weather Service in Birmingham has extended the Flash Flood Watch and overall it now covers approximately the south half of the state.
TORNADO THREAT: That will continue into Wednesday. The greatest threat of spin-off tornadoes is typically east of where the center makes landfall.
TRACK FORECAST: After making landfall, the center will be along the Mississippi-Alabama border by midday Wednesday about 40 miles north of Mobile. Soon after that, it will weaken to a tropical depression as it moves NE across Central Alabama passing south of Birmingham and to near Anniston early Thursday. The center will continue into extreme NE Georgia by early Thursday afternoon, then across Western North Carolina into Southern Virginia by midday Friday. Please remember that this official track forecast from the National Hurricane Center is subject to error, especially with time.
Again, please keep this link close at hand to get a complete rundown on both tropical systems. We will have a separate update on the blog for Tropical Storm Dennis. Here is the link:
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/tropics.hrb
QUICK FACTS:
LOCATION: Cindy was located at 7:00 p.m. CDT near latitude 28.5 N and longitude 90.3 west or about 170 miles SW of Alabama's Dauphin Island.
MOVEMENT: Cindy was moving toward the NE about 14 mph with an expected landfall somewhere around the mouth of the Mississippi River in extreme SE Louisiana. After landfall, Cindy will continue to move NE across Southern Mississippi tonight and into SW Alabama Wednesday.
WINDS: Highest sustained winds have increased slightly and are now near 70 mph with higher gusts. Some additional increase in strength is possible before landfall.
STORM SURGE FLOOD AND THE EFFECT OF STORM TIDES: Normal high tide will occur between 8 a.m. and Noon Wednesday. Combined with Cindy's surge, this could result in water levels of 3 to 5 feet above normal. This may flood some homes on the immediate coast where elevation is low. This is especially true on the barrier islands and on some inland bays and waterways. The increase tide levels could result in extensive washi-up and additional erosion along area beaches. Winds are expected to be strongest in the vicinity of Dauphin Island and diminish in strength as you go east toward the Florida Panhandle.
RIP CURRENTS: Dangerous rip currents are likely through Wednesday due to increasing surf and on-shore winds. People are discouraged from swimming, surfing and recreational boating until Cindy moves well inland.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS: Widespread rainfall amounts of 5 to 7 inches are likely with a few spots possibly getting as much as 10 inches through late Wednesday. The heaviest rain will occur north and east of Cindy's path. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the area through Wednesday. Further north, the National Weather Service in Birmingham has extended the Flash Flood Watch and overall it now covers approximately the south half of the state.
TORNADO THREAT: That will continue into Wednesday. The greatest threat of spin-off tornadoes is typically east of where the center makes landfall.
TRACK FORECAST: After making landfall, the center will be along the Mississippi-Alabama border by midday Wednesday about 40 miles north of Mobile. Soon after that, it will weaken to a tropical depression as it moves NE across Central Alabama passing south of Birmingham and to near Anniston early Thursday. The center will continue into extreme NE Georgia by early Thursday afternoon, then across Western North Carolina into Southern Virginia by midday Friday. Please remember that this official track forecast from the National Hurricane Center is subject to error, especially with time.
Again, please keep this link close at hand to get a complete rundown on both tropical systems. We will have a separate update on the blog for Tropical Storm Dennis. Here is the link:
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/tropics.hrb
by J.B. Elliott
in Tropical Weather
First Severe Thunderstorm Warning--6:55 pm
July 5, 2005, 5:55 pm
Several places over the North 1/3 ofAlabama getting heavy rain this evening. The heaviest:
SE Fayette County
SW Walker County
Calhoun County near Anniston
Etowah County including Gadsden
Second afternoon in a row that Gadsden got heavy rain
The NWS issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Etowah County until 6:45 and also a Flash Flood Warning until 7:45. The severe thunderstorm was near Rainbow City moving east at 10. Besides the Gadsden area, the storm will also affect Hokes Bluff and Glencoe.
Movement of most of the storms was toward the east.
Much of Central and South Alabama rain free
Down on the coast, all the talk is about Cindy. A Tornado Watch is in effect for coastal Alabama due to the possibility of some spin-off tornadoes as Cindy gets closer to the coast.
A Flash Flood Watch also in effect for that same area. Some parts of coastal Alabama could receive 5-7 inches of rain. Cindy will make landfall on the Gulf Coast tonight.
Further north, the Naitonal Weather Service in Birmingham has posted a Flash Flood Watch for South-Central Alabama for tomorrow morning to Thursday morning. The watch covers an area roughly along a line from Demopolis, Eutaw, Centreville, Greensboro, Montgomery, Rockford southward. In that area, 2 to 5 inches of rain is possible.
SE Fayette County
SW Walker County
Calhoun County near Anniston
Etowah County including Gadsden
Second afternoon in a row that Gadsden got heavy rain
The NWS issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Etowah County until 6:45 and also a Flash Flood Warning until 7:45. The severe thunderstorm was near Rainbow City moving east at 10. Besides the Gadsden area, the storm will also affect Hokes Bluff and Glencoe.
Movement of most of the storms was toward the east.
Much of Central and South Alabama rain free
Down on the coast, all the talk is about Cindy. A Tornado Watch is in effect for coastal Alabama due to the possibility of some spin-off tornadoes as Cindy gets closer to the coast.
A Flash Flood Watch also in effect for that same area. Some parts of coastal Alabama could receive 5-7 inches of rain. Cindy will make landfall on the Gulf Coast tonight.
Further north, the Naitonal Weather Service in Birmingham has posted a Flash Flood Watch for South-Central Alabama for tomorrow morning to Thursday morning. The watch covers an area roughly along a line from Demopolis, Eutaw, Centreville, Greensboro, Montgomery, Rockford southward. In that area, 2 to 5 inches of rain is possible.
Late Afternoon Alabama Notes--5:50 pm
July 5, 2005, 4:51 pm
At 5:45 pm, a band of showers approaching Dauphin Island...the lead showers from Cindy.
To the west, a funnel cloud spotted over the Bay St. Louis, Miss., Post Office. Funnel was getting larger and closer to the ground. Nws, New Orleans issued Tornado Warning for the area.
Most of Central and South Alabama rain free at this hour.
Lots of showers and storms over north 1/3 of the state. Heaviest rain now falling:
North Pickens County
NE Walker County
NE Cullman County
Near Guntersville
Along Jefferson-Blount County line
Along Jefferson-St Clair County line.
I hear thunder from my place in NE Trussville.
Movement east and NE
Down on the coast, all the talk is about Cindy. A Tornado Watch is in effect for coastal Alabama due to the possibility of some spin-off tornadoes as Cindy gets closer to the coast.
A Flash Flood Watch also in effect for that same area. Some parts of coastal Alabama could receive 5-7 inches of rain. Cindy will make landfall on the Gulf Coast tonight.
Further north, the Naitonal Weather Service in Birmingham has posted a Flash Flood Watch for South-Central Alabama for tomorrow morning to Thursday morning. The watch covers an area roughly along a line from Demopolis, Eutaw, Centreville, Greensboro, Montgomery, Rockford southward. In that area, 2 to 5 inches of rain is possible.
To the west, a funnel cloud spotted over the Bay St. Louis, Miss., Post Office. Funnel was getting larger and closer to the ground. Nws, New Orleans issued Tornado Warning for the area.
Most of Central and South Alabama rain free at this hour.
Lots of showers and storms over north 1/3 of the state. Heaviest rain now falling:
North Pickens County
NE Walker County
NE Cullman County
Near Guntersville
Along Jefferson-Blount County line
Along Jefferson-St Clair County line.
I hear thunder from my place in NE Trussville.
Movement east and NE
Down on the coast, all the talk is about Cindy. A Tornado Watch is in effect for coastal Alabama due to the possibility of some spin-off tornadoes as Cindy gets closer to the coast.
A Flash Flood Watch also in effect for that same area. Some parts of coastal Alabama could receive 5-7 inches of rain. Cindy will make landfall on the Gulf Coast tonight.
Further north, the Naitonal Weather Service in Birmingham has posted a Flash Flood Watch for South-Central Alabama for tomorrow morning to Thursday morning. The watch covers an area roughly along a line from Demopolis, Eutaw, Centreville, Greensboro, Montgomery, Rockford southward. In that area, 2 to 5 inches of rain is possible.
by J.B. Elliott
in Severe Weather
Cindy And Her Cousin Dennis
July 5, 2005, 3:46 pm
Two headaches to contend with over the next several days and into early next week. Let's take them one at a time.
TROPICAL STORM CINDY:
Location: At 4:00 p.m., she was centered near latitude 28.2 N, longitude 90.3 W or about 95 miles SW of the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Movement: Toward the north near 14 mph and a graudal turn to the NNE expected in the next 24 hours. The National Hurricane Center believes the center will be near the SE Louisiana coast later tonight.
Winds: Highest sustained winds are up to 70 mph with higher gusts. This is not much below hurricane strength, but the National Hurricane Center believes that she will stay a tropical storm until landfall.
Pressure: Near the center estimated at 1,000 MB or 29.53 inches.
TORNADOES:
Always a risk of some spin-off tornadoes with a landfalling tropical system. A Tornado Watch is already in effect for part of the Mississippi-Alabama coast.
RAINFALL:
4-6 inches expected across the Central Gulf Coast and parts of the SE USA. Isolated maximum amounts may reach 10 inches.
WARNINGS:
A Tropical Storm Warning continues from Morgan City, Louisiana eastward to Destin, Florida. A Tropical Storm Watch extends east of Destin to Indian Pass, Florida.
TROPICAL STORM DENNIS:
He has the potential of being a much larger problem than Cindy. At 4:00 p.m., the center of Dennis was located near latitude 14.2 N, longitude 68.3 W or about 325 miles SSW of San Juan, Puerto Rico. That's about 405 miles SE of Port Au Prince, Haiti. He was moving WNW near 20 mph (rather fast). He should continue that way for the next 24 hours and maybe longer. Highest sustained winds of 40 with higher gusts. He is expected to grow some in the next 24 hours.
LOOKING AHEAD CONCERNING DENNIS:
We all know that it is impossible to make accurate projections more than a few days in advance. However, most of the models and other forecast guidance place Dennis into the Eastern Gulf and possibly threatening the North-Central Gulf of Mexico by Monday or Tuesday next week. By that time, he may be a significant hurricane. It is crucial that we watch this.
TROPICAL STORM CINDY:
Location: At 4:00 p.m., she was centered near latitude 28.2 N, longitude 90.3 W or about 95 miles SW of the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Movement: Toward the north near 14 mph and a graudal turn to the NNE expected in the next 24 hours. The National Hurricane Center believes the center will be near the SE Louisiana coast later tonight.
Winds: Highest sustained winds are up to 70 mph with higher gusts. This is not much below hurricane strength, but the National Hurricane Center believes that she will stay a tropical storm until landfall.
Pressure: Near the center estimated at 1,000 MB or 29.53 inches.
TORNADOES:
Always a risk of some spin-off tornadoes with a landfalling tropical system. A Tornado Watch is already in effect for part of the Mississippi-Alabama coast.
RAINFALL:
4-6 inches expected across the Central Gulf Coast and parts of the SE USA. Isolated maximum amounts may reach 10 inches.
WARNINGS:
A Tropical Storm Warning continues from Morgan City, Louisiana eastward to Destin, Florida. A Tropical Storm Watch extends east of Destin to Indian Pass, Florida.
TROPICAL STORM DENNIS:
He has the potential of being a much larger problem than Cindy. At 4:00 p.m., the center of Dennis was located near latitude 14.2 N, longitude 68.3 W or about 325 miles SSW of San Juan, Puerto Rico. That's about 405 miles SE of Port Au Prince, Haiti. He was moving WNW near 20 mph (rather fast). He should continue that way for the next 24 hours and maybe longer. Highest sustained winds of 40 with higher gusts. He is expected to grow some in the next 24 hours.
LOOKING AHEAD CONCERNING DENNIS:
We all know that it is impossible to make accurate projections more than a few days in advance. However, most of the models and other forecast guidance place Dennis into the Eastern Gulf and possibly threatening the North-Central Gulf of Mexico by Monday or Tuesday next week. By that time, he may be a significant hurricane. It is crucial that we watch this.
by J.B. Elliott
in Tropical Weather
Alabama Update at 4:35 PM
July 5, 2005, 3:36 pm
Still not many showers or storms across a wide swath of Central Alabama, but the line of moderate to strong storms continues over the extreme north all the way across the state. Movement is ENE.
Some heavy rain in Marion County this afternoon. The 33/40 WeatherNet site in Hamilton reporting 1.41 inches of rain.
Down on the coast, all the talk is about Cindy. A Tornado Watch is in effect for coastal Alabama due to the possibility of some spin-off tornadoes as Cindy gets closer to the coast.
A Flash Flood Watch also in effect for that same area. Some parts of coastal Alabama could receive 5-7 inches of rain. Cindy will make landfall on the Gulf Coast tonight.
Further north, the Naitonal Weather Service in Birmingham has posted a Flash Flood Watch for South-Central Alabama for tomorrow morning to Thursday morning. The watch covers an area roughly along a line from Demopolis, Eutaw, Centreville, Greensboro, Montgomery, Rockford southward. In that area, 2-5 inches of rain is possible.
Some heavy rain in Marion County this afternoon. The 33/40 WeatherNet site in Hamilton reporting 1.41 inches of rain.
Down on the coast, all the talk is about Cindy. A Tornado Watch is in effect for coastal Alabama due to the possibility of some spin-off tornadoes as Cindy gets closer to the coast.
A Flash Flood Watch also in effect for that same area. Some parts of coastal Alabama could receive 5-7 inches of rain. Cindy will make landfall on the Gulf Coast tonight.
Further north, the Naitonal Weather Service in Birmingham has posted a Flash Flood Watch for South-Central Alabama for tomorrow morning to Thursday morning. The watch covers an area roughly along a line from Demopolis, Eutaw, Centreville, Greensboro, Montgomery, Rockford southward. In that area, 2-5 inches of rain is possible.