Sally

[Tropical Inspector]

Friday Evening Update

TD 19 forms

The Weather Situation
TD 19 shows deep convection most concentrated between Andros Island and Grand Bahama. Heavy rainfall and gusty winds to tropical storm force will be seen over south Florida

For more frequent updates: Twitter: https://twitter.com/richjohnsonwx

Current tropical weather
As of 5:00 PM EDT TD 19 was centered at 25.4 N / 79.0 W or about 80 ESE miles of Miami, FL. It was moving WNW 8 mph. Officially top sustained winds are estimated at 35 mph. Pressure was estimated at 1009 hPa (mb).

Tropical Weather Forecast:
TD 19 will drift over extreme south Florida from the Bahamas into the eastern Gulf. It is expected to become a tropical storm and make landfall on the north central gulf coast by Tuesday. There is a lot of uncertainty on the strength and landfall location due to potential wind shear and the possibility of the low being steered farther west.

Tropicast: Visible Satellite


Tropicast: GR Level III Miami Radar

[Tropical Inspector]

Saturday Morning Update

TD 19 moving into SE Gulf

The Weather Situation
Very heavy rainfall is located over the middle Florida Keys southward across the Florida Straits. Satellite imagery shows deep convection beginning to organize.

For more frequent updates: Twitter: https://twitter.com/richjohnsonwx

Current tropical weather
As of 8:00 AM EDT TD 19 was centered at 25.6 N / 81.1 W or about 55 SE miles of Naples, FL. It was moving west at 9 mph. Officially top sustained winds are estimated at 35 mph. Pressure was estimated at 1004 hPa (mb).

Tropical Weather Forecast:
TD 19 is expected to become a tropical storm today and make landfall on the north central gulf coast by Tuesday. There is a lot of uncertainty on the strength and landfall location due to potential wind shear and the possibility of the low being steered farther west. It can't be ruled out that TD 19 will eventually become a hurricane.

Tropicast: Visible Satellite


Tropicast: GR Level III Miami Radar

[Tropical Inspector]

Saturday Afternoon Update

Sally classified

The Weather Situation
Sally was named at 2 PM EDT. Heavy rainfall now covers the Florida Keys. The circulation is just offshore of extreme southwestern Florida. Storm surge, damaging winds, heavy rainfall and isolated tornadoes should be expected near and to the right of the landfall location. Don't focus on exact path as impacts will be well away from center.

For more frequent updates: Twitter: https://twitter.com/richjohnsonwx

Current tropical weather
As of 2:00 PM EDT Sally was centered at 25.6 N / 81.6 W or about 35 SE miles of Naples, FL. It was moving west at 7 mph. Officially top sustained winds are estimated at 40 mph. Pressure was estimated at 1004 hPa (mb).

Tropical Weather Forecast:
Sally is expected to make landfall on the north central gulf coast by Tuesday morning. It is now expected that it will become a hurricane.

Tropicast: Visible Satellite


Tropicast: GR Level III Key West Radar

[Tropical Inspector]

Sally remains at 40 mph at 5 pm EDT

[Tropical Inspector]

Sunday Morning Update

Sally fighting shear

The Weather Situation
Sally has been slowly strengthening overnight. It is fighting NW windshear and the circulation center is on the far northwestern part of the deep convection seen on the satellite imagery below. Wind shear is expected to decrease before landfall Monday.

Remember that effects from a tropical cyclone can be far from the center, especially to the right, or in this case farther east.

For more frequent updates: Twitter: https://twitter.com/richjohnsonwx

Current tropical weather
As of 8:00 AM EDT Sally was centered at 27.3 N / 84.6 W or about 300 ESE miles of the mouth of the Mississippi river. It was moving WNW at 13 mph. Officially top sustained winds are estimated at 50 mph. Pressure was estimated at 996 hPa (mb).

Tropical Weather Forecast:
Sally is expected to make landfall on the north central gulf coast sometime Monday and slowly turn north across Louisiana.

Tropicast: Visible Satellite


Tropicast: GR Level III Tampa Radar

[Tropical Inspector]

Sally is a little stronger at 11 am EDT - estimated 60 mph.

[Tropical Inspector]

Sunday Evening Update

Sally strengthening

The Weather Situation
Satellite imagery shows deep convection building over the center and to the NW. This indicates that the tropical cyclone is moving over a ridge allowing for the shear to lessen

Remember that effects from a tropical cyclone can be far from the center, especially to the right, or in this case farther east.

For more frequent updates: Twitter: https://twitter.com/richjohnsonwx

Current tropical weather
As of 4:00 PM CDT Sally was centered at 27.8 N / 85.9 W or about 215 ESE miles of the mouth of the Mississippi river. It was moving WNW at 9 mph. Officially top sustained winds are estimated at 60 mph. Pressure was estimated at 996 hPa (mb).

Tropical Weather Forecast:
Sally is expected to make landfall on the north central gulf coast sometime Monday and slowly turn north across Louisiana.

Tropicast: Visible Satellite

[Tropical Inspector]

Monday Morning Update

Sally a little stronger

The Weather Situation
Satellite imagery shows deep continuing to build over the center of circulation.

Remember that effects from a tropical cyclone can be far from the center, especially to the right, or in this case farther east.

For more frequent updates: Twitter: https://twitter.com/richjohnsonwx

Current tropical weather
As of 7:00 AM CDT Sally was centered at 28.4 N / 87.4 W or about 115 ESE miles of the mouth of the Mississippi river. It was moving WNW at 8 mph. Officially top sustained winds are estimated at 65 mph. Pressure was estimated at 994 hPa (mb).

Tropical Weather Forecast:
Sally is expected to make landfall on the north central gulf coast sometime late today and slowly turn north across Louisiana.

Tropicast: IR Satellite

[Tropical Inspector]

Sally rapidly strengthening. Now a hurricane 85 mph.

[Tropical Inspector]

Monday Evening Update

Sally a cat 2

The Weather Situation
Deep convection has steadily built today around the center and an eye became apparent by the middle of the afternoon. The west side of the circulation is much drier and is fighting shear. The heaviest rainfall will be around the center and well east.

high storm surge, damaging winds and flooding rainfall can be expected as well as isolated tornadoes.

Remember that effects from a tropical cyclone can be far from the center, especially to the right, or in this case farther east.

For more frequent updates: Twitter: https://twitter.com/richjohnsonwx

Current tropical weather
As of 4:00 PM CDT Sally was centered at 28.8 N / 87.4 W or about 105 miles east of the mouth of the Mississippi river / 145 miles SE of Biloxi, MS. It was moving WNW at 6 mph. Officially top sustained winds are estimated at 100 mph. Pressure was estimated at 987 hPa (mb).

Tropical Weather Forecast:
Sally is expected to make landfall 24 hours later now. A slight turn to the east and slower forward speed will now delay the landfall until tomorrow evening near the Mississippi or possibly Alabama coast.

Tropicast: IR Satellite

[Tropical Inspector]

Tuesday Morning Update

Sally great flood threat

The Weather Situation
Sally weakened slightly overnight. Despite this Sally is a very dangerous hurricane. It's speed has slowed allowing for very high rain totals / flooding. Rainfall of 20" or more is possible near landfall and just to the east.

high storm surge, damaging winds and flooding rainfall can be expected as well as isolated tornadoes.

Remember that effects from a tropical cyclone can be far from the center, especially to the right, or in this case farther east.

For more frequent updates: Twitter: https://twitter.com/richjohnsonwx

Current tropical weather
As of 7:00 AM CDT Sally was centered at 29.1 N / 88.0 W or about 65 miles east of the mouth of the Mississippi river / 105 miles SSE of Biloxi, MS. It was moving NW at 2 mph. Officially top sustained winds are estimated at 85 mph. Pressure was estimated at 982 hPa (mb).

Tropical Weather Forecast:
Sally is moving even slower now. Landfall is not expected until Wednesday morning near the AL / MS border.

Tropicast: IR Satellite


Tropicast: GR Level III Radar - Mobile, AL 6:45 am CDT

[Tropical Inspector]

Tuesday Evening Update

Sally's great flood threat continues

The Weather Situation
Sally has weakened a touch today. Despite this it remains a huge treat. Rainfall of 20" or more is possible near landfall and just to the east. Rain totals of 8-15" could fall over eastern Alabama and 5-10" into north Georgia including Atlanta.

high storm surge, damaging winds and flooding rainfall can be expected as well as isolated tornadoes.

Remember that effects from a tropical cyclone can be far from the center, especially to the right, or in this case farther east.

For more frequent updates: Twitter: https://twitter.com/richjohnsonwx

Current tropical weather
As of 4:00 PM CDT Sally was centered at 29.5 N / 88.1 W or about 85 miles south of Mobile, AL. It was moving NW at 2 mph. Officially top sustained winds are estimated at 80 mph. Pressure was estimated at 979 hPa (mb).

Tropical Weather Forecast:
Sally will make landfall overnight tonight into early Wednesday morning near the Alabama coast.

Tropicast: IR Satellite


Tropicast: GR Level III Radar - Mobile, AL 3:30 pm CDT

[Tropical Inspector]

Wednesday Late Morning Update

Sally's over extreme NW Florida

The Weather Situation
Sally made landfall at 4:45 am CDT near Gulf Shores, AL. Top winds were estimated at 105 mph.

Sally has / will produce epic amounts of rainfall. 20-30" is still possible (in total) over extreme southern Alabama / NW Florida. The western side of the tropical cyclone is quite dry. The heaviest of the rainfall is to the east and will move over eastern Alabama / north / central Georgia today.

For more frequent updates: Twitter: https://twitter.com/richjohnsonwx

Current tropical weather
As of 10:00 AM CDT Sally was centered at 30.6 N / 87.4 W or about 15 NNW of Pensacola, FL. It was moving NNE at 5 mph. Officially top sustained winds are estimated at 80 mph. Pressure was estimated at 975 hPa (mb).

Tropical Weather Forecast:
Sally will slowly move into eastern Alabama today and into central Georgia tomorrow as it becomes extratropical.

Tropicast: IR Satellite at landfall


Tropicast: GR Level III Radar - NW Florida, AL 7:30 am CDT


Tropicast: Visible Satellite 9:45 am CDT

[Tropical Inspector]

Thursday Morning Update

Sally's legacy

The Weather Situation
The only hurricane force winds found so far with Sally were gusts on the AL/FL coast. Sally did produce epic rainfall. Wundergroud totals showed reports of 25" + near the right eyewall area of landfall - near the AL / FL border. Rainfall of 10"+ fell in SE Alabama and 4-6"+ over the Atlanta metro. 5-9" was recorded over middle Georgia.

Tropicast: IR Satellite Wednesday


Tropicast: Visible Satellite Thursday


Tropicast: GR Level III Radar Doppler Estimate