WTUS84 KMOB 110335 HLSMOB ALZ051>060-261>266-FLZ201>206-MSZ067-075-076-078-079-111145- Hurricane Francine Local Statement Advisory Number 10 National Weather Service Mobile AL AL062024 1035 PM CDT Tue Sep 10 2024 This product covers portions of southwest Alabama...northwest Florida...south central Alabama...and inland southeast Mississippi. **FRANCINE MOVING TOWARD THE LOUISIANA COAST** NEW INFORMATION --------------- * CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for Wayne * CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Tropical Storm Warning and Storm Surge Watch are in effect for Baldwin Central, Baldwin Coastal, Mobile Central, and Mobile Coastal - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Baldwin Inland, George, Mobile Inland, and Stone - A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Greene, Perry, and Wayne * STORM INFORMATION: - About 480 miles southwest of Mobile AL or about 510 miles west-southwest of Pensacola FL - 26.4N 94.3W - Storm Intensity 75 mph - Movement Northeast or 35 degrees at 10 mph SITUATION OVERVIEW ------------------ At 10 PM CDT, Hurricane Francine, located over the west central Gulf of Mexico, is forecast to strengthen through tonight before making landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday or Wednesday night. Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles, tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from the center. The minimum central pressure is 980 mb. Francine is moving to the northeast at 10 mph, and is expected to continue this motion and increase in forward speed tonight and Wednesday. Tropical storm force winds or wind gusts are likely over Stone and George counties of southeast Mississippi and Mobile and Baldwin counties in southwest Alabama beginning Wednesday morning and continuing until diminishing Wednesday night. Tropical storm force winds or wind gusts are also possible over Perry, Greene, and Wayne counties in southeast Mississippi. Francine is expected to bring rainfall amounts of 2 to 6 inches to the area, with the higher rainfall totals mainly anticipated over portions of southeast Mississippi, extreme southwest Alabama the western Florida panhandle. The tornado threat will increase across the area late Wednesday afternoon and continue into Thursday morning before ending, with the highest potential for tornadic activity over the coastal counties and extreme southeast Mississippi. A Storm Surge Watch remains in effect for the Alabama coast for surge heights of 2 to 4 feet, and minor coastal flooding of 1 to 2 feet is possible over the western Florida panhandle. The highest potential for coastal flooding concerns is from Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Surf heights build to 8 to 11 feet during Wednesday evening through Thursday afternoon before subsiding. A high risk of rip currents is in effect through Friday afternoon. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ----------------- * WIND: Prepare for hazardous wind having possible limited impacts across portions of southeast Mississippi and extreme southwest Alabama. Potential impacts in this area include: - Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about. - Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown over. - A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within urban or heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving conditions on bridges and other elevated roadways. - Scattered power and communications outages. Elsewhere across portions of southwest Alabama...northwest Florida...south central Alabama...and inland southeast Mississippi, little to no impact is anticipated. * SURGE: Prepare for life-threatening surge having possible significant impacts across coastal Alabama. 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. * FLOODING RAIN: Prepare for life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible extensive impacts mainly across southeast Mississippi, extreme southwest Alabama and portions of the western Florida panhandle. Potential impacts include: - Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues. - Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in multiple places. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches may become dangerous rivers. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed. - Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous. Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out. Prepare for dangerous rainfall flooding having possible limited to significant impacts across the remainder of the area. * TORNADOES: Protect against a dangerous tornado event having possible significant impacts across the entire area, especially over the coastal counties and extreme southeast Mississippi. Potential impacts include: - The occurrence of scattered tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans during tropical events. - Several places may experience tornado damage with a few spots of considerable damage, power loss, and communications failures. - Locations could realize roofs torn off frame houses, mobile homes demolished, boxcars overturned, large trees snapped or uprooted, vehicles tumbled, and small boats tossed about. Dangerous projectiles can add to the toll. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ---------------------------------- * EVACUATIONS: Follow the advice of local officials. * OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: Now is the time to complete all preparations to protect life and property in accordance with your emergency plan. Ensure you are in a safe location before the onset of strong winds or possible flooding. If you are a visitor, be sure to know the name of the city or town in which you are staying and the name of the county or parish in which it resides. Listen for these locations in local news updates. Pay attention for instructions from local authorities. Storm surge is the leading killer associated with tropical storms and hurricanes! Make sure you are in a safe area away from the surge zone. Even if you are not in a surge-prone area, you could find yourself cutoff by flood waters during and after the storm. Heed evacuation orders issued by the local authorities. If a Tornado Warning is issued for your area, be ready to shelter quickly, preferably away from windows and in an interior room not prone to flooding. If driving, scan the roadside for quick shelter options. Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes to the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather warnings. * 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 4 AM CDT, or sooner if conditions warrant. $$