Mississippi Coast now under hurricane watch as Tropical Storm Sally moves into Gulf
Editor’s note: Read the latest Sunday updates here.
10 p.m.
Sally has now entered the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to intensify to a hurricane in the next 48 hours once the storm develops a stronger inner core, the National Hurricane Center said in its 10 p.m. update.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast remains under a hurricane watch and storm surge watch.
Sally’s track shifted slightly east, with a landfall projected near the Mississippi-Louisiana line on Tuesday night.
The Coast could start feeling tropical storm force winds by Monday night.
4 p.m.
▪ A hurricane watch is in effect from Grand Isle, Louisiana, to the Alabama/Florida border which includes Hancock, Harrison, Jackson and Pearl River counties. That means hurricane conditions are possible in those areas. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical storm-force winds, which make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.
▪ A storm surge watch is in effect from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Alabama/Florida border which includes Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties. That means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in those areas during the next 48 hours.
Six to 9 feet of surge is possible for Hancock and Harrison counties, and 4-6 feet is possible in Jackson County.
It will also hit during a high-tide cycle, the Harrison County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) said, when the water is already 2.4 feet above normal. Low-lying areas should be complete preparations by Sunday evening, the EMA said, and boat and harbor preparations could be complete before Monday.
▪ A tropical storm watch is in effect for Pike and Walthall counties. Tropical storm-force winds are possible within this area in the next 48 hours.
▪ A flash flood watch will be in effect from Sunday night through late Wednesday night for all of southern Mississippi, Alabama, southeastern Louisiana, and the Florida panhandle including Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, George, Stone, Pearl River and Walthall counties in Mississippi, New Orleans, Slidell and Mobile.
The slow-moving storm is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches with isolated amounts of 18 inches from Sunday into the middle of next week, the National Weather Service said. Flash flooding and river flooding are possible.
Tropical Storm Sally is gradually becoming better organized and moving slowly westward, the NHC said.
“With very warm waters and a moist tropospheric environment ahead of Sally, strengthening seems likely. Some increase in westerly shear over the northern Gulf in 48-72 hours could at least slow down the intensification process around that time.”
1 p.m.
Tropical Storm Sally formed off the southwest coast of Florida, the National Hurricane Center said just after 1 p.m. Saturday.
It is forecast to be a hurricane by late Monday, and “dangerous impacts from storm surge, wind and heavy rainfall will be possible from the Florida Panhandle to southeastern Louisiana,” the NHC said.
A tropical storm watch has already been issued for parts of the Florida Panhandle, and the National Weather Service in New Orleans advised there is a “high probability” it would issue tropical storm or hurricane watches later Saturday.
On Saturday, Sally was crossing the southern tip of Florida and moving into the Gulf of Mexico. The track will become more certain after it gets out over open water and the center becomes more defined.
The storm was experiencing some wind shear Saturday, which can sometimes prevent storm strengthening, and models show the shear continuing as it crosses the Gulf.
“However, since the cyclone is going to be over very warm sea surface temperatures and in a moist environment, the intensity guidance still shows it strengthening to near hurricane strength, or stronger, before it reaches the northern Gulf Coast,” the NHC forecast discussion said.
The forecast track could still change by up to 150 miles, the NHC said, so residents along the Gulf Coast are urged not to focus on the exact track as hazards will extend far from the center.
The storm should steadily strengthen and move northwest through Sunday, but after that there is more uncertainty in the track thanks to changing areas of high pressure over the Southeast.
The weather service in New Orleans advised that a breakdown in the steering currents could happen as it approaches land Monday night into Tuesday, which would result in a very slow-moving storm that could take 24-36 hours to clear the area.
“Heavy rain concerns continues to increase especially given the pattern that may besetting up leading to a very slow moving storm,” the weather service forecast discussion said.
Tropical storm-strength winds (39-73 mph) could reach the Mississippi Coast by Monday morning and impacts would continue into Tuesday.
Also Saturday, a weak tropical wave was sending some showers and clouds across the area.
Sand bag locations
Harrison County
- Harrison County Road Department at 11076 Lorraine Road
- D’Iberville Work Center at 190085 1st Ave. W
- Lyman Work Center at 15001 County Farm Road
- Woolmarket Work Center at 16395 Old Woolmarket Road
- District 4 Work Center at 8300 34th Ave. in Gulfport
- Long Beach Work Center at 605 N. Seal Ave.
- Ken Combs Pier parking lot at Courthouse Road and U.S. 90
D’Iberville at the north end of the I-110 bridge, south of Rodriguez St.
Orange Grove Community Center on Dedeaux Road, the Fire Station on 42nd Avenue
Intersection of Hewes Avenue and Glover Street
Hancock County
Beginning at 7 a.m. Sunday. If you need assistance, call the Hancock County Emergency Management Agency at 228-255-0942 or Hancock County Central Dispatch at 228-255-9191.
- Hancock County Horse Arena, 4184 Kiln Delisle Road
- Old Hancock County Complex, 3068 Longfellow Drive
- Lakeshore Community Center, 6440 Lower Bay Road
- Bayside Fire Department, 6215 West Hinds Street
- West Hancock Fire Department, 16006 Washington Street
- Diamondhead City Hall, 5000 Diamondhead Circle
Jackson County
- West Division Roads Department, N. Washington Avenue (Mississippi 609), Ocean Springs
- Forts Lake Fire Department, 10701 Forts Lake Road, Moss Point
- Escatawpa VFD, 3801 Sentinel Dr, Moss Point
- Fontainebleau Fire Department, 3901 Hwy. 57 South, Ocean Springs
- East Division Roads Department, 10825 Hwy. 63, Moss Point
- St. Andrews Fire Department, 1401 Elm Street, Ocean Springs
Ocean Springs - Public Works Department, 712 A Pine Drive
Gautier - Behind City Hall, Highway 90
Pascagoula - Jackson County Fairgrounds, 2902 Shortcut Road
- Moss Point - New Central Fire Station, 4204 Bellview Street
Forecast for Biloxi/Gulfport area
Saturday
Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m. High near 88. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday night
A 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 74. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday Night
A 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday
Tropical storm conditions possible. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 p.m. High near 87. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday Night
Tropical storm conditions possible. A 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Tuesday
Tropical storm conditions possible. Showers and thunderstorms. High near 84. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Tuesday Night
Tropical storm conditions possible. Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
This story was originally published September 12, 2020 at 9:58 AM.
