[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS84 KMOB 082217
HLSMOB
ALZ063-064-FLZ002-004-006-090400-

HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
517 PM CDT FRI JUL 8 2005

...A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST
FLORIDA GULF COASTS...

...HURRICANE DENNIS WILL MOVE INTO THE SOUTHEAST GULF THIS EVENING
AND TAKE AIM ON THE NORTH CENTRAL GULF COAST...

...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT RECOMMENDS SPECIFIC ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY RESIDENTS
OF THE COASTAL COUNTIES OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE COASTAL AREAS OF MOBILE AND
BALDWIN COUNTIES OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...AS WELL AS ESCAMBIA...SANTA
ROSA...AND OKALOOSA COUNTIES IN THE EXTREME WESTERN FLORIDA
PANHANDLE.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT FOR
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...EXTREME SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND THE EXTREME
WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 4 PM CDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE DENNIS WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 22.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 81.1 WEST OR ABOUT 145 MILES SOUTH-
SOUTHEAST OF KEY WEST FLORIDA.  DENNIS IS MOVING TO THE NORTHWEST
NEAR 17 MPH WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR 135 MPH WITH HIGHER
GUSTS.  DENNIS IS EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS THE NORTH CENTRAL GULF
COAST...POSSIBLY THE EXTREME NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE OR ALABAMA
COASTS...ON SUNDAY AS A DANGEROUS CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
SHELTERS ARE BEING OPENED IN SOME AREAS TONIGHT...WITH MANDATORY
EVACUATIONS POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY.  LISTEN TO LOCAL RADIO AND TV FOR
SPECIFIC ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN YOUR AREA.

...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
ASTRONOMICAL HIGH TIDES WILL OCCUR NEAR NOON ON SUNDAY...AND COMBINED
WITH THE SURGE FROM DENNIS...COULD RESULT IN A STORM SURGE BETWEEN 10
AND 14 FEET IN AND NEAR WHERE DENNIS MAKES LANDFALL.  THIS WILL
RESULT IN MAJOR DESTRUCTION ALONG COASTAL AREAS...SIMILAR TO WHAT
HURRICANE IVAN PRODUCED LAST YEAR.

...WIND IMPACTS...
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS OF 40 MPH OR GREATER WILL BEGIN TO AFFECT
THE COASTAL AREAS EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...WHICH WILL MAKE DRIVING
CONDITIONS HAZARDOUS.  HURRICANE FORCE WINDS...75 MPH OR GREATER...
WILL BEGIN TO AFFECT THE AREA AROUND MIDDAY SUNDAY AND PERSIST
THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.  AS DENNIS IS EXPECTED TO BE
AT LEAST A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE WITH WINDS AROUND 120 MPH...MAJOR
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IS LIKELY WITH DENNIS.

...RIP CURRENTS AND RAINFALL AMOUNTS...
DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS ARE LIKELY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY DUE TO
INCREASING SURF AND WINDS.  PEOPLE ARE DISCOURAGED FROM SWIMMING...
SURFING AND RECREATIONAL BOATING UNTIL DENNIS MOVES OUT OF THE AREA.

RAINFALL TOTALS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE AS DENNIS MAKES
LANDFALL AND TRACKS INLAND. GROUND CONDITIONS ARE STILL FAIRLY MOIST
DUE TO HEAVY RAINFALL FROM TROPICAL STORM CINDY EARLIER IN THE
WEEK...THIS WILL PROMOTE MORE RUNOFF AND RESULT IN A DANGEROUS FLASH
FLOOD SITUATION AS DENNIS MOVES INLAND.  IF FLOODING IS
ENCOUNTERED...REMEMBER TO TURN AROUND AND DON'T DROWN.

...TORNADO THREAT...
THE THREAT OF TORNADOES WILL BE INCREASED AS DENNIS APPROACHES THE
COAST AND MOVES THROUGH THE AREA.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT SCHEDULED TROPICAL STORM LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED
AROUND 1100 PM.

EVERSOLE/MCKEE

$$

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