Hurricane Francine continues to have maximum winds around 90 mph. The storm is moving northeast at 12 mph. Landfall point later today near Vermilion Bay, Louisiana. pic.twitter.com/29deK2JtDi
— Spinks Megginson (@rzweather) September 11, 2024
ALL EYES ON FRANCINE… Lots of rain and a tornado risk locally due to Hurricane Francine over the next 24 hours!
Drier weekend is on tap ahead of more scattered storms next week.
Hurricane Francine continues to have maximum winds near 90 mph on this Wednesday morning.
Impacts to ramp up locally later today into tonight. Heavy rain at times and a few tornadoes possible across south Alabama and northwest Florida. pic.twitter.com/U3lJ5s6Av1
— Spinks Megginson (@rzweather) September 11, 2024
HURRICANE FRANCINE TO MAKE LANDFALL IN LOUISIANA TODAY; TORNADOES POSSIBLE THRU TOMORROW… Hurricane Francine, currently located in the northwestern Gulf, is moving toward landfall later today along the central coast of Louisiana. Direct local impacts from Francine are expected today, tonight, and into tomorrow across south Alabama and northwest Florida. The main impact for many communities will be heavy rain. Tornadoes will also be possible. We encourage everyone to have multiple ways to hear urgent weather warnings today, overnight, and into Thursday. Not every community will have tornadoes around. Many will not. If a tornado affects you, however, it’s a big deal. Please be able to hear warnings! In addition to the heavy rain and tornado impacts, some amount of storm surge will be possible near Mobile Bay and the Alabama beaches. Gusty winds will be possible near the Alabama beaches and west Alabama.
TORNADO RISK – TIMING… Let me be clear in stating this specific forecast is for southwest Alabama and northwest Florida, so if you are reading this in Mississippi, Louisiana, or other places, timing WILL be different. Locally, the greatest tornado risk will happen from Noon today to Noon tomorrow. That is a 24 hour window, and unfortunately it looks like the overall tornado risk could maximize overnight into early tomorrow morning. Please have a way to hear warnings!
TROPICAL STORM WARNING – MOBILE & BALDWIN COUNTIES… Tropical storm force wind gusts (40+ mph) may be possible in parts of Mobile and Baldwin counties this evening into tonight. Widespread tropical storm force winds are not expected across much of south Alabama and northwest Florida through this event, although breezy conditions are likely today, tonight, and tomorrow. Wind gusts of 20-30 mph may be possible at times, particularly across west Alabama. Wind gusts of 40-50 mph may be possible near Mobile Bay and near Dauphin Island. Wind gusts across southeast Mississippi (and Louisiana) will be much higher. A Hurricane Warning continues for much of the central Louisiana coast.
HEAVY RAIN AT TIMES TODAY, TONIGHT, INTO TOMORROW… Scattered showers will increase in coverage throughout the day on this Wednesday. Rain will become heavier and more consistent later today and into tonight. I am expecting 2 to 5 inches of total rainfall with this event across the region. Most spots will end up in the 2-4″ range in total with isolated higher amounts. Widespread flash flooding is not likely but I would not be surprised at all if we have some locales that have repeated thunderstorms that lead to flash flooding. Quite frankly, this will be a great rain event for much of the region that will help to alleviate drought conditions.
STORM SURGE MAXIMIZED IN LOUISIANA… A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for much of the Louisiana coast along with ALL of the Mississippi coast on this Wednesday. 5 to 10 feet of storm surge is likely across the central Louisiana coast, particularly near Vermilion Bay. 3 to 5 feet of storm surge will be possible near Lake Pontchartrain and along the Mississippi coast. A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for the Alabama coast and Mobile Bay. 2 to 4 feet of peak storm surge is expected along the Alabama coast and near Mobile Bay. 1 to 2 feet of peak storm surge will be possible along the northwest Florida coast, perhaps as far east as Navarre. Storm surge is not currently projected for places east of Navarre.
APP ALERTS… redzoneweather.com/app is the link where you can download the free RedZone Weather app. We post brief updates throughout each day in the app, keeping you up-to-date about the latest happenings in weather across south Alabama and northwest Florida. Once you have the free app downloaded to your iOS or Android device, be sure to visit the Alerts tab (lower right corner) then tap the large Alert Settings button to customize the alerts you would like to receive straight from me.
Today, we remember all of the victims that lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Our nation was forever changed. Today, we remember all those who perished. 23 years ago today.
I’ll have more updates throughout the day in the RedZone Weather app. My next long form, detailed post will be available later this evening. We will go into live, uninterrupted video coverage if and when tornado warnings become required today, overnight, and/or into Thursday.
Have a nice Wednesday!
