Live updates: Hurricane Sally intensifies as Gulf Coast landfall grows closer

Editor’s note: Find the latest Tuesday updates here.

10 p.m.

Hurricane warnings for Category 2 Sally continued to shift east while the storm was still slowing down with the latest and final Monday update from the National Hurricane Center.

Sally was crawling west-northwest at 3 mph with the north central Gulf Coast under a hurricane warning from Grand Isle, Louisiana, to Navarre, Florida.

Meteorologists watching Sally’s slow progress from the Gulf of Mexico toward shore noted Sally’s eyewall was closing off, which would allow the 100-mph hurricane to intensify.

“Some strengthening is forecast early Tuesday and Sally is expected to be a dangerous hurricane when it moves onshore along the north-central Gulf Coast,” the NHC advisory said.

Hurricane-force winds also expanded. They extended outward for 45 miles from the center.

Storm surge of 6 to 9 feet is still expected along the Mississippi Coast, along with hurricane-force winds and flash-flooding that will accompany rainfall of 8 to 16 inches and up to 2 feet in some areas.

The threat of tornadoes was highest through early Tuesday in the coastal areas of the Florida Panhandle and Alabama, but will increase and spread inland as the day progresses. The storm is expected to turn inland Wednesday.

Sally will continue to produce swells Tuesday and Wednesday from the Big Bend area of Florida to southeastern Louisiana, creating a threat of rip currents.

7 p.m.

With landfall expected late Tuesday night or early Wednesday, where Hurricane Sally will take aim along the northern Gulf Coast remains uncertain.

Sally slowed to a crawl Monday night, moving west-northwest at 5 mph. The shoreline from Morgan City, Louisiana, to Navarre, Florida, is under a hurricane warning. At 7 p.m. Monday, the hurricane was about 100 miles east of the mouth of the Mississippi River with outer rain bands moving onshore in the Florida Panhandle.

Residents within the warning area can expect hurricane conditions to begin late Monday night into Tuesday, including strong wind, flash-flooding from heavy rainfall and storm surge.

Hurricane Sally is already packing Category 2 winds of 100 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center with tropical-storm force stretching out up to 125 miles, the National Hurricane Center says.

The hurricane is expected to turn northward by Tuesday afternoon and continue a slow north-northeastward to northeastward motion Tuesday night through Wednesday night.

In an email update Monday afternoon, Harrison County emergency manager Rupert Lacy said: “Water backup into the Bay of Biloxi and Bay of St. Louis, rivers, lakes and areas that flood will have issues. You should not wait for orders, move to higher ground, protect life and property.”

4 p.m.

Hurricane Sally intensified from a Tropical Depression this morning to a Category 2 hurricane this afternoon as the system continues to move across the northern Gulf of Mexico, according to the 4 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center.

Just where Sally will make landfall is still uncertain, depending on when it makes the turn north.

“Sally should continue to gradually intensify through tonight as it moves to a position near the mouth of the Mississippi river,” according to the report. “At that time, it should slow its forward speed and make a turn towards the north, likely reaching the southeast Mississippi or southwest Alabama coast Tuesday night or early Wednesday.”

Life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds and torrential rainfall are expected.

On Monday afternoon Sally is about 155 miles southeast of Gulfport and has slowed to 6 mph.

This latest reports are more dire in the forecast for storm surge and flooding across South Mississippi.

The NHC said the storm could bring:

• Widespread deep inundation, with storm surge flooding greatly accentuated by powerful battering waves
• Structural damage to buildings, with many washing away
• Damage greatly compounded from considerable floating debris
• Locations may be uninhabitable for an extended period
• Near-shore escape routes and secondary roads washed out or severely flooded
• Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed
• Extreme beach erosion with new shoreline cuts possible
• Massive damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers

2:30 p.m.

Flights have been arriving and departing Monday at Gulfport International Airport, although some cancellations are on the board for Monday afternoon and evening.

“All are canceled for tomorrow,” Clay Williams, airport executive director, said of Tuesday’s flight schedule.

It’s too early to say what will happen beyond that, he said. He asks those who have tickets for flights on Wednesday to contact their individual airline to see if the flight is scheduled.

2 p.m.

Rupert Lacey rode out lots of storms as the director of Harrison County Emergency Management. For Hurricane Sally, it’s the storm surge and flooding rains that he’s watching.

The storm surge along the beaches, the water backing up into the bays and back water and then the rivers filling up all have him concerned, he said.

“People need to be smart and try not to go out tonight,” he said Monday. “Hunker down. It could be 24 to 36 hours before people get back out.”

12:30 p.m.

As more cities, counties and businesses announce closings for Wednesday, the Harrison County Supervisors has ordered mandatory evacuations south of the seawall starting at 1 p.m. today.

11:30 a.m.

Jackson County is requesting voluntary evacuation for those who live in low-lying areas. Those who live along rivers, river inlets, bayous, creeks, and in travel trailers, modular homes, mobile homes and homes under construction should consider evacuating.

Residents are encouraged to stay with family and friends because of the coronavirus. Masks are mandatory.

Shelters

▪ Jackson County — St. Martin at 13000 Walker Road and at East Central on 18413 Mississippi 613.

▪ Harrison County —Three shelters open Monday at 2 p.m. County Farm Road 361 Shelter 15038 County Farm Road, Gulfport. Saucier Lizana Road 361 Shelter 23771 Saucier Lizana Road, Saucier. Lobouy Road 361 Shelter, 9509 Lobouy Road, Pass Christian

Residents in need of transportation to Harrison County shelters only can call the Coast Transit Authority at 228-896-8080. CTA will stop making pick-ups from 2-6 p.m. Monday, so residents are asked to call well in advance.

▪ Hancock County — Kiln, 18320 Mississippi 43

▪ Stone County — The Mississippi State Medical Needs Shelter at 1640 Coy Ave. in Wiggins opens at 3 p.m. Monday. It is a shelter of last resort for people whose medical needs can’t be accommodated in a general population shelter. Only one caregiver may accompany the resident inside the shelter, and should bring prescribed medication or equipment needed for care if possible.

10:30 a.m.

Gov. Tate Reeves said at a press conference that a lot has changed in the last 18 hours and Sally, now a hurricane, is expected to make landfall in Biloxi as a high category 1.

He said landfall is expected around 2 a.m. Wednesday and the storm should exit the state around Lucedale in George County.

Shelters are opening on all three counties and Greg Michel, director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, said masks and PPE will be required at all shelters.

Reeves signed his executive order over the weekend to make masks mandatory in the state to the end of the month.

Reeves said there are reports of some shortages at gas on the Coast, but stations are still pumping and more gasoline is on the way to the Coast.

9:30 a.m.

Along with high storm surge on the Coast, Sally is expected to bring flooding rains to South Mississippi.

Harrison County just released flood projections on local rivers:

• The Tchoutacabouffa River is expected to crest Thursday morning at 18 feet. Flood stage is 8 feet.
• The Biloxi River if expected to crest Wednesday afternoon at 19 feet. Flood stage is 12 feet.
• Wolf River is expected to crest Thursday morning at 15 feet. Flood stage is 8 feet.

8:20 a.m.

A mandatory evacuation order was issued this morning for all low lying areas of Hancock County as there are reports of streets already beginning to flood.

Residents who live along rivers, river inlets, bayous, creeks and in travel trailers, modular homes, mobile homes, homes under construction and or partially constructed homes should evacuate.

These areas include, but are not limited to:

• Shoreline Park (east and west side of Mississippi 603
• North Beach — Cedar Point
• South Beach Boulevard — Bay St. Louis & Waveland
• South side of Diamondhead
• Clermont Harbor, Lakeshore, Ansley/Heron Bay, Pearlington, Harbor Drive, Chapman Road, Jourdan River Drive

For those who need to leave there homes, the American Red Cross opened a shelter at 18320 Mississippi 43 in Kiln for Sally evacuees. People should bring a mask, identification and all items to be self-contained (bedding, medications, personal hygiene items, drinks and snacks). Because of COVID-19, pets are not allowed in the shelter.

7:45 a.m.

U.S. 90 will become impassable after sunset Monday into Tuesday and Wednesday, Rupert Lacy, Harrison County emergency management director, said in his latest update on Tropical Storm Sally.

This will be a water storm and because it is so slow moving, he said it will be in the area over two high tides. There will be no low tide cycle because of the flooding.

Water will backup into the Bay of Biloxi, Bay of St. Louis and area rivers, lakes and low-lying areas, he said, and people in those areas should move now to higher ground.

“Flooding in the bays will be exceedingly high,” he said, “and continue over the next day or two.”

He also warned people to prepare to be without power over the next few days.

7:15 a.m.

Slow-moving Tropical Storm Sally is heading west at 8 mph Monday morning and is expected to become a hurricane today, according to the latest advisories from the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service said in its 4 a.m. update that it’s too early to tell where the system will come ashore, but the storm track has moved east and South Mississippi is more likely.

At the 7 a.m., the NWS said Sally is a “little stronger” and is expected to become a hurricane Monday night.

Additional strengthening is possible before landfall on Tuesday.

Water is the main threat from the system that will produce life-threatening storm surge, heavy rain and possible tornadoes.

The latest as of 7 a.m.:

▪ Wind: sustained winds of 65 mph with higher gusts. Hurricane conditions are expected starting late Monday.

▪ Rain: Sally is expected to produce 8-16 inches of rain, with isolated amounts of 24 inches. Life-threatening flash flooding is possible and widespread minor to isolated major flooding on area rivers.

▪ Storm surge warnings are in effect. The combination of a dangerous storm surge and high tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters. The water could reach 7-11 feet from the mouth of the Mississippi to Ocean Springs and 5-8 feet from Ocean Springs to the Mississippi-Alabama border.

Residents spent Sunday filling up the gas tank, stocking up on food and watching the weather forecast.

Several school districts on the Coast are closed Monday and superintendents are monitoring conditions before deciding whether to close Tuesday.

The Sun Herald will continue to provide updates throughout the day.

This story was originally published September 14, 2020 at 7:31 AM.