[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS84 KBMX 300547
HLSBMX
ALZ011>015-017>050-301000-

HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1243 AM CDT TUE AUG 30 2005

...DAMAGING WINDS STILL EXPECTED WITH TROPICAL STORM KATRINA...

...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT PERTAINS TO ALL CENTRAL ALABAMA COUNTIES SERVICED
BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
AN INLAND TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL CENTRAL
ALABAMA COUNTIES UNTIL 10 AM TUESDAY.

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF EASTERN ALABAMA UNTIL 5 AM
TUESDAY.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 10 PM CDT....THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM KATRINA WAS
ESTIMATED NEAR LATITUDE 33.5 NORTH... LONGITUDE 88.5 WEST OR NEAR
COLUMBUS MISSISSIPPI. THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 973
MB...28.73 INCHES.

KATRINA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 22 MPH.  SOME
INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.  ON
THE FORECAST TRACK...KATRINA WILL BE MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL
TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY ON TUESDAY.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES FROM THE
CENTER.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
NUMEROUS POWER OUTAGES HAVE ALSO BEEN REPORTED ACROSS CENTRAL
ALABAMA...DUE TO THE TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS.  IF THE POWER
OUTAGES LAST FOR ANY DURATION AND A GENERATOR IS NECESSARY...PLEASE
REMEMBER THAT GENERATOR USE INDOORS CAN BE DEADLY DUE TO THE CARBON
MONOXIDE GAS PRODUCED. GENERATORS SHOULD NOT BE USED INDOORS...BUT IF
NO ALTERNATIVE EXISTS...USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN OPERATING GENERATORS
INDOORS AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE VENTILATION FOR THE MACHINE.

USE EXTREME CAUTION IF TRAVEL IS NECESSARY OVERNIGHT. MANY ROADWAYS
HAVE TREE DEBRIS COVERING THEM...AND THIS DEBRIS WILL BE NEARLY
INVISIBLE CONSIDERING THE ASSOCIATED POWER OUTAGES. TRAVEL IS HIGHLY
DISCOURAGED AS FIRST RESPONDERS ARE STILL DEALING WITH BLOCKED
ROADWAYS. MOST OF THE DAMAGING WINDS ARE ORIENTED FROM THE
SOUTH...THEREFORE...HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES TRAVELING WEST OR EAST
WILL BE HIGHLY AFFECTED.

...WIND IMPACTS...
WIDESPREAD SUSTAINED WINDS OF 35 TO 40 MPH...WITH GUSTS TO 65 MPH
CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA.

ALTHOUGH MANY LOCATIONS EXPERIENCED WIND DAMAGE EARLIER IN THE
DAY...EXTENSIVE TREE AND POWER LINE DAMAGE CAN STILL BE EXPECTED
ACROSS THE AREA. USE EXTREME CAUTION IF TRAVEL IS NECESSARY DURING
THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.

...FLOOD IMPACTS...
KATRINA IS MOVING FASTER NORTHWARD THAN EXPECTED...AND TOTAL RAINFALL
AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED DOWNWARD.  THEREFORE...ISOLATED LOCATIONS
MAY EXPERIENCE MINOR FLOODING PROBLEMS...WIDESPREAD FLOODING OR
FLASH FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED.

...TORNADO THREAT...
AS RAIN BANDS ROTATE NORTHWARD ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA OVERNIGHT...
THERE WILL BE A CONTINUED THREAT OF TORNADOES. THE TORNADO THREAT
WILL BE LIMITED TO AREAS GENERALLY EAST OF INTERSTATE 65 ASSOCIATED
WITH KATRINAS FEEDER BANDS.

...ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...
THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS SET UP A HOT LINE
FOR ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION IN SOUTH ALABAMA.  THE ACCESS NUMBER
IS 1-888-588-2848.  THIS INFORMATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE
DEPARTMENT'S WEB SITE...AT HTTP://WWW.DOT.STATE.AL.US/.

TO REPORT DOWNED POWER LINES...PLEASE CALL ALABAMA POWER AT 800-888-
2726.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...OR DAMAGE FROM HURRICANE KATRINA...CALL
OUR STORM REPORTING HOTLINE AT 1-800-856-0758.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 5 AM CDT.

&&

$$

LINHARES



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