[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS84 KBMX 301013
HLSBMX
ALZ011>015-017>050-301500-

HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
510 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.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 4 AM CDT....THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM KATRINA WAS
ESTIMATED NEAR LATITUDE 34.7 NORTH... LONGITUDE 88.4 WEST OR
ABOUT 35 MILES NORTHEAST OF TUPELO MISSISSIPPI.  THE ESTIMATED
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 980 MB...28.95 INCHES.

KATRINA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 18 MPH.  A TURN
TOWARD THE NORTHEAST AND A FASTER FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED DURING
THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR  50 MPH...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS.  FURTHER WEAKENING IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND
KATRINA SHOULD WEAKEN TO A DEPRESSION LATER TODAY.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
NUMEROUS POWER OUTAGES HAVE BEEN REPORTED ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA...
DUE TO THE DAMAGING 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.

MOTORISTS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION AS GUSTY WINDS ARE STILL EXPECTED
TODAY...BUT WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH. 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 30 TO 40 MPH...WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH
CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA.

SOME ADDITIONAL TREE AND POWER LINE DAMAGE IS STILL POSSIBLE
USE EXTREME CAUTION IF TRAVEL IS NECESSARY.  ADDITIONALLY...DEBRIS
FROM DAMAGE OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS MAY BE ON THE ROADS.  ONCE AGAIN
DRIVERS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE CAUTION.

...FLOOD IMPACTS...
KATRINA IS MOVING FASTER NORTHWARD THAN EXPECTED...AND TOTAL RAINFALL
AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED DOWNWARD.  THEREFORE...NO WIDESPREAD
FLOODING OR FLASH FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED. HOWEVER...A FEW RIVERS
MAY RISE OUT OF THEIR BANKS...ESPECIALLY IN FAR WESTERN ALABAMA.

...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 10 AM CDT.

&&

$$

12/SIRMON



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