[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS84 KMOB 262155
HLSMOB
ALZ051>060-261>266-FLZ201>206-MSZ067-075-076-078-079-270600-

Hurricane Zeta Local Statement Advisory Number 9
National Weather Service Mobile AL  AL282020
455 PM CDT Mon Oct 26 2020

This product covers portions of southwest Alabama...northwest Florida...south
central Alabama...and inland southeast Mississippi.

**TROPICAL STORM AND STORM SURGE WATCHES NOW IN EFFECT**

NEW INFORMATION
---------------

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - A Storm Surge Watch and Tropical Storm Watch have been issued
      for Baldwin Central, Baldwin Coastal, Escambia Coastal, Mobile
      Central, Mobile Coastal, and Santa Rosa Coastal
    - A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for Baldwin Inland,
      Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw,
      Escambia, Escambia Inland, George, Greene, Mobile Inland,
      Monroe, Okaloosa Coastal, Okaloosa Inland, Perry, Santa Rosa
      Inland, Stone, Washington, Wayne, and Wilcox

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - A Storm Surge Watch and Tropical Storm Watch are in effect for
      Baldwin Central, Baldwin Coastal, Escambia Coastal, Mobile
      Central, Mobile Coastal, and Santa Rosa Coastal
    - A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Baldwin Inland, Butler,
      Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Escambia,
      Escambia Inland, George, Greene, Mobile Inland, Monroe,
      Okaloosa Coastal, Okaloosa Inland, Perry, Santa Rosa Inland,
      Stone, Washington, Wayne, and Wilcox

* STORM INFORMATION:
    - About 780 miles south of Mobile AL or about 760 miles south of
      Pensacola FL
    - 19.5N 86.0W
    - Storm Intensity 80 mph
    - Movement Northwest or 305 degrees at 10 mph

SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------

Hurricane Zeta is approaching the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula this
afternoon and is forecast to move into the southern Gulf of Mexico by
Tuesday evening. Zeta will turn northward across the Gulf Tuesday night
into Wednesday and is forecast to weaken slightly and make landfall
near the southeast Louisiana and Mississippi coasts late Wednesday
night. The storm is forecast to move quickly northeastward across
southeast Mississippi and into interior portions of Alabama overnight
Wednesday night. Zeta is expected to bring multiple impacts to the
region, including storm surge along the Alabama coast and portions of
the western Florida coast, wind, heavy rain, dangerous surf and rip
currents, and potentially a few tornadoes.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------

* SURGE:
Prepare for life-threatening surge having possible significant impacts
across coastal Alabama and adjacent portions of the western Florida
panhandle coast extending to Navarre. Potential impacts in this area
include:
    - Areas of inundation with storm surge flooding accentuated by
      waves. Damage to several buildings, mainly near the coast.
    - Sections of near-shore escape routes and secondary roads become
      weakened or washed out, especially in usually vulnerable low
      spots.
    - Major beach erosion with heavy surf breaching dunes. Strong and
      numerous rip currents.
    - Moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers.
      Several small craft broken away from moorings, especially in
      unprotected anchorages.

Also, prepare for locally hazardous surge having possible limited
impacts across the western Florida panhandle coast from Navarre
eastward the Okaloosa-Walton County line.

* WIND:
Prepare for dangerous wind having possible significant impacts across
interior southeast Mississippi and a large part of southwest Alabama.
Potential impacts in this area include:
    - Some damage to roofing and siding materials, along with damage
      to porches, awnings, carports, and sheds. A few buildings
      experiencing window, door, and garage door failures. Mobile
      homes damaged, especially if unanchored. Unsecured lightweight
      objects become dangerous projectiles.
    - Several large trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater
      numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Several
      fences and roadway signs blown over.
    - Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban
      or heavily wooded places.
    - Scattered power and communications outages, but more prevalent
      in areas with above ground lines.

Also, prepare for hazardous wind having possible limited impacts
across the remainder of south central Alabama and the western Florida
panhandle.

* FLOODING RAIN:
Prepare for dangerous rainfall flooding having possible significant
impacts across locations along and west of Intestate 65. Potential
impacts include:
    - Moderate rainfall flooding may prompt several evacuations and
      rescues.
    - Rivers and tributaries may quickly become swollen with swifter
      currents and overspill their banks in a few places, especially
      in usually vulnerable spots. Small streams, creeks, canals, and
      ditches overflow.
    - Flood waters can enter some structures or weaken foundations.
      Several places may experience expanded areas of rapid
      inundation at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage
      areas. Some streets and parking lots take on moving water as
      storm drains and retention ponds overflow. Driving conditions
      become hazardous. Some road and bridge closures.

Prepare for locally hazardous rainfall flooding having possible
limited impacts across locations along and east of Interstate 65.

* TORNADOES:
Prepare for a tornado event having possible limited impacts across
southwest Alabama...northwest Florida...south central Alabama...and
inland southeast Mississippi.. Potential impacts include:
    - The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution
      of emergency plans during tropical events.
    - A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power
      and communications disruptions.
    - Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys
      toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned,
      large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees
      knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats
      pulled from moorings.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------

* EVACUATIONS:
Listen to local official for recommended preparedness actions,
including possible evacuation. If ordered to evacuate, do so
immediately.

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
Now is the time to check your emergency plan and emergency supplies
kit and take necessary actions to protect your family and secure your
home or business.

When making safety and preparedness decisions, do not focus on the
exact forecast track since hazards such as flooding rain, damaging
wind gusts, storm surge, and tornadoes extend well away from the
center of the storm.

* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- For the latest detailed evacuation and shelter information...please
refer to your local emergency management agency at the phone number
or website listed below.
- Coastal Alabama:
- Baldwin County: 251-972-6807 or
www.baldwincountyal.gov/departments/EMA
- Mobile County: 251-460-8000 or www.mcema.net
- Northwest Florida:
- Escambia County: 850-471-6400 or bereadyescambia.com
- Santa Rosa County: 850-983-5360 www.santarosa.fl.gov/emergency
- Okaloosa County: 850-651-7150 or www.co.okaloosa.fl.us/ps/home
- For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
- For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org

NEXT UPDATE
-----------

The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather
Service in Mobile AL around 11 PM CDT, or sooner if conditions
warrant.

$$
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