This post has been updated as of 1:10PM to reflect the latest information. Zeta is now a category 2 hurricane. A Tornado Watch has been issued.
BE READY FOR POWER OUTAGES TONIGHT; ZETA NOW A CAT. 2 HURRICANE… Power outages are expected this evening in areas close to the passing center of Hurricane Zeta. That means the greatest chance of power outages locally will happen across parts of Clarke, Washington, Baldwin, Mobile, Monroe, and Butler counties. I would not be surprised if MANY, many folks are caught off guard by this possibility since Zeta is expected to be a tropical storm when it passes through our area. High-end tropical storm force winds can cause serious problems, including potentially widespread power outages far inland. I would encourage you to pass this info along to folks that may not be as “weather aware” as you as I am growing more concerned by the hour about this power outage potential. While Zeta will not be anything like Hurricane Sally for many folks along the coast, Zeta IS set to be a worse storm for central and west Alabama in areas that did not have the core impacts from Sally. BE READY!
TORNADO WATCH NOW IN EFFECT… The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Tornado Watch for all of our local counties in south Alabama and northwest Florida valid until midnight. This Tornado Watch also includes parts of southeast Mississippi and eastern Louisiana. The tornado risk across our local area is set to increase in the hours ahead. Please be ready for possible tornado warnings!
1PM ADVISORY – HURRICANE ZETA… Hurricane Zeta has strengthened right before landfall. Maximum sustained winds are at 100 mph, per the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. It is obvious, based on the latest satellite imagery, that the turn to the northeast has started. This means that Zeta is feeling the strong effects of the upper-level trough over Texas that is beginning to push the storm to the northeast instead of due north.
LANDFALL HAPPENS THIS EVENING… The center of Hurricane Zeta WILL cross the coast in southeast Louisiana. This is a certainty at this point and no longer has any level of uncertainty involved. Unfortunately, this increases the likelihood of power outages tonight in west Alabama as the track of Zeta is now near certain. Is there any chance of a last minute “wobble” to the east causing the storm to make landfall in Alabama or northwest Florida? No, the window of opportunity for that to happen has passed.
TORNADO RISK FOR ENTIRE REGION… The entirety of south Alabama and northwest Florida (both coastal and inland counties) have an increasing risk of tornadoes today into tonight as the core of Zeta approaches from the south. The tornado risk will likely start first around the Alabama and northwest Florida coastline and gradually spread eastward and inland later this evening. Tropical tornadoes generally do not last long, but they can cause localized areas of damage and still are very serious in some cases. If we have tornado warnings at any point over the next few days, be sure to join us in our live video coverage that will remain on the air as long as the warning is in effect. redzoneweather.com/coverage outlines our tornado warning coverage commitment in great detail. The Storm Prediction Center has included basically all of our local area in their Levels 1 and 2 (out of 5) tornado risk zones. The tornado risk should end early tomorrow (Thursday) morning.
TROPICAL STORM WARNING CONTINUES FOR ALL OF LOCAL AREA… The entire local area in southwest Alabama and northwest Florida remains involved in a Tropical Storm Warning as of 7AM on Wednesday. This means that tropical storm force (39+ mph) will be possible this evening and into the overnight hours as Zeta passes right over the western part of our area. All preparations should be complete at this point or ASAP this morning.
HURRICANE WARNING TO OUR SOUTHEAST… A Hurricane Warning continues on this Wednesday for much of eastern Louisiana and coastal Mississippi. The Hurricane Warning includes Biloxi, Pascagoula, Pass Christian, Bay Saint Louis, and all of metro New Orleans.
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, yellow Alert Settings button to customize the alerts you would like to receive straight from me.
NEXT UPDATE… Our plan of action for this evening and tonight is to be on standby for tornado warnings until the threat from Zeta passes. My next live video update will happen this evening around 7:30PM unless tornado warning coverage is needed before that. Later this evening, we will have live video coverage as needed when the core of Zeta is passing across our area. When we are not in live video coverage, be sure to check the RedZone Weather app for the very latest information.
Have a good Wednesday evening, check in for updates, and stay safe!