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Hurricane Sally

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This article is about the 2020 Atlantic hurricane. For other storms of the same name, see List of storms named Sally.

Hurricane Sally
Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Category 1 Hurricane Sally intensifying prior to peak intensity before landfall in Alabama on September 15
FormedSeptember 11, 2020
DissipatedCurrently active
(Remnant low after September 17)
Highest winds1-minute sustained: 105 mph (165 km/h)
Lowest pressure965 mbar (hPa); 28.5 inHg
Fatalities2 total, 1 missing
Damage$8-10 Billion [1]
Areas affectedThe Bahamas, Cuba, U.S. Gulf Coast, Southeastern United States
Part of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Sally was the first hurricane to make landfall in Alabama since Hurricane Ivan in 2004. The eighteenth named storm, and seventh hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Sally formed out of an area of disturbed weather which was first monitored over the Bahamas on September 10. The system grew a broad area of low-pressure on September 11, and was designated as a tropical depression at late that day. Early the next day, the depression made landfall near Miami, Florida, and subsequently strengthened into Tropical Storm Sally that afternoon. Moderate northwesterly shear prevented significant intensification for the first two days, but convection continued to grow towards the center and Sally slowly intensified. On September 14, a center reformation into the center of the convection occurred, and data from a hurricane hunter reconnaissance aircraft showed that Sally rapidly intensified into a strong Category 1 hurricane. It further intensified into a Category 2 hurricane that evening. However, an increase in wind shear and upwelling of colder waters weakened Sally slightly back down to Category 1 on September 15. Despite this increase in wind shear, it unexpectedly re-intensified, reaching Category 2 status again early on September 16 before making landfall at peak intensity at 09:45 UTC on September 16 near Gulf Shores, Alabama, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h).[2] The storm rapidly weakened after landfall, becoming a remnant low early the next day.

Numerous watches and warnings were issued in anticipation of the imminent approach of Sally and several coastline counties and parishes on the Gulf Coast were evacuated. In South Florida, heavy rain led to localized flash flooding while the rest of peninsula saw continuous shower and thunderstorm activity due to asymmetric structure of Sally. The storm made landfall on Gulf Shores, Alabama, on the 16 year anniversary of Hurricane Ivan making landfall in the same location in 2004. The area between Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, took the brunt of the storm with widespread wind damage, storm surge flooding, and over 20 inches (510 mm) of rainfall. Several tornadoes also occurred as well.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

At 00:00 UTC on September 10, the NHC began to monitor an area of disturbed weather over the Bahamas for possible development.[3] Over the next two days, convection rapidly increased, became better organized, and formed a broad area of low-pressure on September 11.[4] At 21:00 UTC, the system had organized enough to be designated as Tropical Depression Nineteen.[5] At 06:00 UTC on September 12, the depression made landfall just south of Miami, Florida, with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a pressure of 1007 mbar (29.74 inHg).[6] Shortly after moving into the Gulf of Mexico, the system strengthened into Tropical Storm Sally at 18:00 UTC the same day and became the earliest 18th named Atlantic storm, shattering the previous record set by Hurricane Stan in 2005 by 20 days.[7] As Sally moved north-northwestard, northerwesterly shear from a nearby upper-level low caused the system to have a sheared appearance, but it continued to strengthen as it gradually moved north-northwestward.[8] As shear relaxed some, a huge burst of convection and a center reformation caused Sally to rapidly intensify into a hurricane by 16:00 UTC on September 14.[9] It later intensified into a Category 2 hurricane three hours later, although its pressure had risen to 987 mb.[8]

An intensifying Category 2 Hurricane Sally on September 16, a few hours away from landfall.

This increase in strength did not last long as six hours later, a slight increase in wind shear and upwelling of colder waters caused by the storm's slow motion weakened Sally back to a Category 1 storm early the next day.[8] Despite its weakening, Sally began to develop a ragged eye, as shown on radar imagery, although it was open on its southern side.[10] Sally continued to slowly weaken as it slowed down tremendously and meandered first before turning northward, moving at only 2 mph (3.2 km/h).[11] Although its pressure continued to fall, hurricane hunter aircraft reported that wind speeds continued to drop.[8] As Sally approached the coast, however, its eye quickly became better defined and it abruptly began to reintensify.[12] By 05:00 UTC on September 16, the storm had reintensified back into a Category 2 hurricane and was still strengthening.[13] At around 09:45 UTC, the system made landfall at peak intensity near Gulf Shores, Alabama, with winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a pressure of 965 mbars (28.50 inHg).[14][15] Sally's eye quickly disappeared as the storm rapidly weakened while it moved slowly inland. It was downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane at 13:00 UTC and to a tropical storm at 18:00 UTC.[16][17] The next day, it further weakened to a tropical depression at 03:00 UTC before degenerating into a remnant low at 15:00 UTC[18][19]

Preparations

Tropical Depression Nineteen shortly after formation on September 11, 2020.

Due to the possibility of the storm making landfall as a tropical storm, a tropical storm watch was issued for the coast of Southeastern Florida from south of Jupiter Inlet to north of Ocean Reef when advisories were first issued at 21:00 UTC on September 11.[5] At 03:00 UTC on September 12, another tropical storm watch was issued for the Florida panhandle from the Ochlockonee River to the Okalossa/Walton County line.[20] That same day, numerous storm surge, tropical storm, and hurricane watches were then issued for a large portion of the US Gulf Coast east of New Orleans at 21:00 UTC, three hours after Sally was named.[7][21] Many of these watches were then upgraded to warnings at 09:00 UTC on September 13 with more watches and warnings issued in the hours that followed.[22][23] Tornado watches, flash flood watches, and flood watches were also issued.[24]

States of emergency were declared in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.[25][26][27] Emergencies were also declared in the East Baton Rouge and St. Bernard parishes in Louisiana and Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida as well as New Orleans and Pensacola, Florida.[28][29][30][31][32]

Louisiana

Hurricane Sally approaching the northern Gulf Coast on the afternoon of September 15.

The mayor of New Orleans issued an evacuation for the unleaved area of the city due to storm surge while the governor of Louisiana declared a state of emergency for the entire state, which was still recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Laura just three weeks earlier.[25] Several parishes and areas were put under mandatory evacuation orders including all of St. Charles Parish, and parts of Orleans Parish, Jefferson Parish, Plaquemines Parish, and St. John the Baptist Parish.[33] Shelters were opened while public school and university classes were cancelled throughout southeastern Louisiana for September 15.[34] FEMA declared that they will be bringing additional resources to Louisiana for the storm's aftermath and not diverting resources away from Hurricane Laura's relief efforts.[34] Lakeshore Drive along Lake Pontchartrain was closed before the storm as well.[24]

Mississippi

U.S. Coast Guard preparing to launch rescue boats for Sally's impacts.

A state of emergency was declared on Sunday night, September 13, 2020.[35] Mississippi governor Tate Reeves urged residents to prepare for Sally, which he said could produce up to 20 inches (51 cm) of rain in the southern part of the state. Some shelters were opened, although officials urged people who were evacuating to stay with friends, relatives, or in hotels, if possible, because of the coronavirus.[36] Mandatory evacuations were ordered for parts of Harrison County and Hancock County.[34][33]

Alabama

Alabama governor Kay Ivey closed all beaches on the coast and called for evacuations of low-lying and flood prone areas.[36] Additionally, Dauphin Island mayor Jeff Collier strongly encouraged all people to evacuate the west end after water started to encroach on the main roadway.[37] A state of emergency was declared by governor Kay Ivey on Monday September 14, 2020 as public schools and university classes were either cancelled or moved online in anticipation of the storm.[38]

Impact

The reintensification and sudden track to the east by Sally prior to landfall caught many by surprise. Additionally, its slow movement caused coastal areas between Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, to be in the northern eyewall for hours. Over 500,000 customers in Alabama and Florida lost power and parts of I-10 were shut down.[24] Widespread tornado, special marine, severe thunderstorm, and flash flood warnings were issued, including several flash flood emergencies.[39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46]

Florida

Tropical Depression Nineteen at landfall near Miami as seen from the NWS Miami radar on September 12.
People after being rescued by a Coast Guard response team near Navarre, Florida.

Due to the asymmetrical structure of Sally, almost all of Florida saw continuous shower and thunderstorm activity starting on September 12. A low-topped supercell in the outer rainbands of Sally prompted a tornado warning east of Tampa near Sebring on September 12.[47] The next day, another storm prompted two tornado warnings in southwestern Lee County.[48] Several special marine warnings were also issued for the Florida coast due to possible waterspouts.[49][50] Sally caused heavy rainfall in South Florida and the Florida Keys, with nearly 8.5 inches (220 mm) falling over Marathon, over 10 inches (250 mm) in Key West and peaking at 12 inches (300 mm) in Lower Matacumbe Key. Tropical storm-force gusts were reported in portions of the Miami metropolitan area.[51]

The Panhandle area suffered the brunt of the storm in Florida. Late on September 15, a construction barge in Pensacola Bay broke loose due to heavy surf and became lodged underneath the Pensacola Bay Bridge, causing the bridge to be temporally closed.[52] The next morning, a crane fell onto the same bridge, destroying a portion of the roadway.[53] The Florida Department of Transportation was unable to assess any possible damage to the bridge due to ongoing high winds.[54] In Escambia County, which includes Pensacola, the sheriff kept police deputies out helping residents "as long as physically possible". Tiger Point saw 36 inches (91 cm) of rain , while Bellview saw 30 inches (76 cm). In Pensacola itself, over 24 inches (61 cm) of rain fell and storm surge flooding reached 5.6 feet (1.7 m), the third highest surge ever recorded in the city.[24] Many streets were flooded and several parked cars were totaled when water got into their engines. A water main break also occurred in nearby Pensacola Beach, causing officials to advise residents to fill their bathtubs with water.[55] There was also a tornado reported in Marianna.[56]

Mississippi

Sally brought flooding to Mississippi, especially in Jackson County. At the peak of the storm, more than 10,000 people were without power. Pascagoula police reported downed power lines and traffic lights in the city and a power outage on the eastern side of the city.[57]

Alabama

Hurricane Sally shortly after landfall as seen on radar

Continuous onshore flow from Sally caused storm surge flooding to occur on Dauphin Island beginning early on September 14.[37] Two unoccupied riverboat casinos in Bayou La Batre near Mobile broke loose due to the constant wave action with one of them hitting a dock.[58] Elberta, Alabama reported a wind gust of 99 miles per hour (159 km/h) while Mobile reported a wind gust of 83 miles per hour (134 km/h). Major structural damage was recorded at the landfall point in Gulf Shores as well as Mobile. A pier in Gulf Shores that was destroyed in Hurricane Ivan in 2004 was partially destroyed again by storm surge from Sally just days after it had reopened following renovations. There were also several reports of damage to condos in the Gulf Shores with a few being destroyed.[24] Meanwhile, in Downtown Mobile, a street light snapped, swinging wildly on its cable.[54] A gas station was destroyed in Spanish Fort, Alabama.[59] [24][55] One person was declared dead and one other missing in Orange Beach, an area most impacted by flooding.[60]

Elsewhere

The winds from the outer bands of Sally caused the south side of Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana to overflow its banks, flooding Lakeshore Drive. However, no serious damage was reported as the storm veered farther east then originally forecast.[24] In Georgia, two tornadoes were reported and one person was killed and two others were injured after a large oak tree fell onto two homes and several cars in Atlanta.[61] Another possible tornado occurred in Rincon, where trees, homes, sheds, and power lines were damaged. Another tornado occurred in Eastover, South Carolina.[62]

Aftermath

Due the large amount of damage in the city, a curfew was imposed in Mobile, Alabama starting on September 16. Immediately after the storm, the Cajun Navy, a nonprofit rescue organization, began surveying damage in Alabama.[54]

See also

References

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  2. ^ "Hurricane Sally blasts ashore in Alabama with punishing rain". yahoo.com. September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  3. ^ Eric Blake (September 9, 2020). "Two-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  4. ^ Robbie Berg (September 11, 2020). "Two-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Eric Blake (September 11, 2020). "Tropical Depression Nineteen Public Advisory Number 1". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  6. ^ Jack Beven (September 12, 2020). "Tropical Depression Nineteen Public Advisory Number 2A". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Richard Pasch (September 12, 2020). "Tropical Storm Sally Public Advisory Number 4A". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d "Tropical Storm SALLY Advisory Archive". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  9. ^ "Hurricane SALLY". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
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  28. ^ report, Staff. "Emergency declaration issued for East Baton Rouge ahead of Tropical Storm Sally". The Advocate. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  29. ^ "St. Bernard Parish declares state of emergency". wwltv.com. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  30. ^ Staff, WEAR (September 14, 2020). "Gov. DeSantis declares state of emergency for Escambia, Santa Rosa Counties ahead of Sally". WEAR. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
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  34. ^ a b c WWL Staff (September 14, 2020). "Live Updates: Sally forecast as Cat 2 at landfall, Tangipahoa Parish sets up shelter of last resort". WWLTV. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  35. ^ Tim Darnell (September 13, 2020). "UPDATE: Sally now a hurricane; emergencies declared in Alabama, Mississippi". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
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  37. ^ a b Alexander, Steve. "Dauphin Island mayor strongly encourages evacuating west end of island". FOX10 News. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
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  51. ^ "Hurricane Warning Issued for Parts of Louisiana and Mississippi Ahead of Tropical Storm Sally". The Weather Channel. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  52. ^ Blanks, Annie. "Construction barge breaks loose, strikes Three Mile Bridge during Hurricane Sally". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  53. ^ Staff, WEAR (September 16, 2020). "Hurricane Sally leaves section of Three Mile Bridge missing". WEAR. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  54. ^ a b c "Hurricane Sally makes landfall: Part of Pensacola bridge collapses amid 30 inches of rain; 'catastrophic flooding' in Alabama, Florida". usatoday.com. September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  55. ^ a b "Hurricane Sally blasts ashore as a powerful Category 2 storm, bringing punishing rain, flooding". CNBC. September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
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  57. ^ https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2020/09/16/hurricane-sally-mississippi-state-braces-heavy-rain-flooding/5806360002/
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  61. ^ Adrianne M Haney (September 16, 2020). "1 person killed, 2 rescued after tree falls on house in southwest Atlanta". WXIA. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  62. ^ "Storm Prediction Center Today's Storm Reports". www.spc.noaa.gov. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
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