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Hurricane Sally made landfall in Gulf Shores, AL at 5am on Wednesday, September 16th as a strong Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. Sally produced widespread wind, storm surge, and freshwater flooding across coastal AL and the western Florida Panhandle. Flood and wind damage also extended well inland into inland southwest Alabama and south central Alabama. Sally was an extremely slow moving hurricane, which prolonged and exacerbated the local impacts. The storm was moving at less than 5 mph at the time of landfall, resulting in a long duration of tropical storm and hurricane force winds, storm surge, and torrential rainfall.
There were 3 direct fatalities as a result of Sally. One fatality occurred in the Wolf Bay area (Baldwin County AL.) Two men were riding the storm out on their boat and at some point during the storm attempted to swim to shore. One of the men made it to a pier and was rescued and hospitalised; the other man drowned. The second fatality occurred on Innerarity Point, FL (Escambia County FL) where a 45 year old woman drowned when the vehicle she was driving was overtaken by the incoming storm surge. The third fatality occurred in Perdido Key, FL (Escambia County FL) when a 27 year old man drowned trying to retrieve a boat that was swept away by the surge and high surf. There were also 3 indirect fatalities. One was due to storm cleanup in the Foley, AL area with two others (one in both Baldwin County and Escambia County FL) due to carbon monoxide poisoning from improper generator use.
Summary of all Local Storm Reports (LSRs) across the area during Hurricane Sally and LSRs across the region during Sally.
Hurricane Sally made landfall in Gulf Shores, AL and significant impacts were felt across the entire region (although the majority of the impacts remained across southern Alabama and northwest Florida). Below are some of the local impacts...
Jump to - Rainfall, Wind, Storm Surge, Tornado, Post-Tropical Cyclone Report, or Additional Information sections.
The very slow movement of Sally resulted in rainfall totals of 15 to 30 inches across Baldwin County into the western Florida Panhandle. 7 to 15 inches of rain fell across parts of inland southwest Alabama, along and east of Interstate 65, and south central Alabama. This torrential rain resulted in major river and flash flooding, especially in Baldwin County eastward into the Florida Panhandle. Thousands of water rescues were conducted during the storm due to rapidly rising water and many homes were flooded. Road closures were extensive, especially in Baldwin County east into the western Florida Panhandle and some roads were damaged or washed out. Several rivers reached moderate to major flood stage and some crested within the top 5 of their historical crests.
A list of rainfall totals across the area can be found on our dedicated rainfallwebpage for Sally.
Rainfall Map for much of the Southeastern US.
Wind damage was extensive across the region, especially in areas that experienced the eyewall of Sally over a several hour duration. Wind damage was most extensive from southeast Mobile County eastward across Baldwin County AL into Escambia County FL. These locations experienced prolonged hurricane conditions with wind gusts over 100 mph, especially close to the immediate coast. Many homes across the area suffered roof damage from the winds and an untold number of homes were damaged by fallen trees. The tree damage was most extensive in Baldwin County, but also significant in parts of Mobile and Escambia Counties which experienced hurricane conditions. The pecan farms of Baldwin County took a major hit with well over a thousand pecan trees downed throughout the county.
Timber loss was extensive. The Alabama Forestry Commission estimates that 2,440 forested acres were damaged with 79,175 tons of timber destroyed at a value of $1,564,160. Most of this occurred in Baldwin County.
The comprehensive list of land and marine wind gusts (converted to mph) can be found at this link.
Storm surge and resultant damage was widespread and significant from Baldwin County eastward to Okaloosa County. The highest surge occurred in the bays and sounds of Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle, with generally lower values and lesser impacts on the immediate Gulf facing shores. A peak inundation of 7 to 9 feet above ground level was officially surveyed across some locations in the back bays and sounds of southeast Baldwin County, as well as the northern end of Escambia and Blackwater Bays. A larger area was impacted by 3 to 6 feet of inundation, including along the immediate Gulf facing shores. It should be noted that the extremely heavy rainfall exacerbated the total water levels, although it is difficult to determine the exact extent. Regardless, thousands of structures along coastal areas were flooded by the combination surge and torrential rainfall.
*Note: Inundation at the Pensacola gauge was the 3rd highest storm surge on record for that location.
The only higher water levels were:9.54 ft MHHW during 2004 Hurricane Ivan and 7.42 ft MHHW during the 1926 Miami Hurricane.
There were no documented tornadoes associated with Sally.
POST TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORT...HURRICANE SALLY...UPDATEDNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL124 PM CDT SAT OCT 10 2020NOTE: THE DATA SHOWN HERE ARE PRELIMINARY....AND SUBJECT TO UPDATESAND CORRECTIONS AS APPROPRIATE.THIS REPORT INCLUDES EVENTS OCCURRING WHEN WATCHES AND/OR WARNINGSWERE IN EFFECT...OR WHEN SIGNIFICANT FLOODING ASSOCIATED WITH SALLYOR ITS REMNANTS WAS AFFECTING THE AREA.COUNTIES INCLUDED...BALDWIN...BUTLER...CHOCTAW...CLARKE...CONECUH...COVINGTON...CRENSHAW...ESCAMBIA AL...ESCAMBIA FL...GEORGE...GREENE...MOBILE...MONROE...OKALOOSA...PERRY...SANTA ROSA...STONE...WASHINGTON...WAYNE...WILCOXOCT 2...UPDATED FOR...WIND OBSERVATIONS...RAINFALL TOTALS...SURGEINFORMATION...AND COUNTY IMPACTS.OCT 10...UPDATED FOR...ADDED RAINFALL TOTALS FOR THE USA CHILIMESONET SITES IN FOLEY AND ELBERTA.A. LOWEST SEA LEVEL PRESSURE/MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS AND PEAK GUSTS---------------------------------------------------------------------METAR OBSERVATIONS...NOTE: ANEMOMETER HEIGHT IS 10 METERS AND WIND AVERAGING IS 2 MINUTES---------------------------------------------------------------------LOCATION ID MIN DATE/ MAX DATE/ PEAK DATE/LAT LON PRES TIME SUST TIME GUST TIMEDEG DECIMAL (MB) (UTC) (KT) (UTC) (KT) (UTC)---------------------------------------------------------------------KMOB-MOBILE/BATES FIELD AL30.68 -88.25 994.8 16/1156 010/040 16/1026 010/071 16/1135KBFM-MOBILE DOWNTOWN AL30.64 -88.07 990.6 16/1053 360/041 16/0935 010/065 16/1108KNPA-NAS PENSACOLA, PENSACOLA FL30.35 -87.32 984.4 16/1056 160/064 16/1119 160/080 16/1119KNSE-WHITING FLD-N NAS, MILTON FL30.72 -87.02 990.4 16/1656 170/039 16/1656 140/057 16/1504KCEW-CRESTVIEW FL30.79 -86.52 1002.1 16/1453 090/021 16/0746 070/036 16/0741KHRT-HURLBURT FIELD FL30.43 -86.68 999.1 16/1556 190/039 16/1456 160/057 16/1335KVPS-EGLIN AFB/VALPAR FL30.48 -86.53 999.9 16/1952 210/028 16/1809 210/049 16/1809KDTS-DESTIN/FT WALTON BEACH ARPT FL30.40 -86.47 1000.4 16/1953 090/023 16/0353 110/040 16/0333K79J-ANDALUSIA/OPP AP AL31.32 -86.41 996.5 16/2156 080/030 16/1456 080/046 16/1456K0J4-FLORALA MUNICIPAL AL31.04 -86.31 997.6 16/2158 080/021 16/1211 170/040 16/2107KGZH-EVERGREEN AL31.42 -87.04 1003.2 16/1353 050/022 16/1412 070/039 16/1350KPRN-MACCRENSHAW MEM AP, GREENVILLE AL31.85 -86.61 994.5 16/2157 060/024 16/2013 060/049 16/1742KEGI-DUKE FLD/EGLIN AFB FL30.65 -86.52 1007.7 16/0010 080/019 16/0101 080/034 16/0136REMARKS:NON-METAR OBSERVATIONS...NOTE: ANEMOMETER HEIGHT IN METERS AND WIND AVERAGING PERIOD INMINUTES INDICATED UNDER MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WIND IF KNOWN---------------------------------------------------------------------LOCATION ID MIN DATE/ MAX DATE/ PEAK DATE/LAT LON PRES TIME SUST TIME GUST TIMEDEG DECIMAL (MB) (UTC) (KT) (UTC) (KT) (UTC)---------------------------------------------------------------------XGLF-GULF SHORES/FOLEY (WEATHERFLOW) AL30.36 -87.65 966 16/0910 040/065 16/0844 040/081 16/0843 10.4FCMP-FCMP T5 - GULF SHORES (WEATHERFLOW) AL30.29 -87.68 000/066 16/0752 080/080 16/0753 10XGBZ-GULF BREEZE (WEATHERFLOW) FL30.36 -87.16 988 16/1239 200/046 16/1354 180/066 16/1110 15XCBS-CRYSTAL BEACH (WEATHERFLOW) FL30.39 -87.41 998 16/2131 200/032 16/1704 120/044 16/0843 13.7XBUC-BUCCANEER YACHT CLUB (WEATHERFLOW) AL30.58 -88.07 987 16/0956 030/045 16/0234 350/054 16/0941 10.4ELBERTA (USA CHILI) AL30.41 -87.60 I 999/999 I 070/086 16/0914 7CITY OF ORANGE BEACH - DAVIS WX STATION AL30.27 -87.59 I 999/073 I 999/090 IDOW8 - PERDIDO PASS AL30.28 -87.55 999/081 16/0750 999/103 16/0750 11REMARKS: DOW8 MOBILE DOPPLER RESEARCH RADAR WAS POSITIONED ON THEEAST SIDE OF PERDIDO PASS AND WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN ANEMOMETER. THE103 KT (118MPH) GUST REPORTED ABOVE WAS THE MAX 3 SECOND GUST. THEANEMOMETER ALSO MEASURED A 1 SECOND GUST OF 107 KT (123 MPH.) THEANEMOMETER HEIGHT RANGED FROM 9-13 METERS (30-43 FEET.) THE CITY OFORANGE BEACH DAVIS WEATHER STATION STOPPED REPORTING JUST AS THEEYEWALL WAS MOVING ASHORE.B. MARINE OBSERVATIONS...NOTE: ANEMOMETER HEIGHT IN METERS AND WIND AVERAGING PERIOD INMINUTES INDICATED UNDER MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WIND IF KNOWN---------------------------------------------------------------------LOCATION ID MIN DATE/ MAX DATE/ PEAK DATE/LAT LON PRES TIME SUST TIME GUST TIMEDEG DECIMAL (MB) (UTC) (KT) (UTC) (KT) (UTC)---------------------------------------------------------------------XFPL-FAIR POINT LIGHT (PENSACOLA BAY)30.37 -87.21 I 130/053 16/1131 130/071 16/1136 4.6XOFP-OKALOOSA ISLAND FISHING PIER30.39 -86.59 I 120/050 16/0815 120/061 16/0815 13.7XFWB-FT. WALTON BEACH (W CHOCTAWHATCHEE BAY)30.40 -86.56 I 160/046 16/0813 160/056 16/0813 7.3NOAA COOPS 8735180 - DAUPHIN ISLAND30.25 -88.07 980.5 16/0942 080/076 16/0812 330/090 16/1006 742012-ORANGE BEACH, AL BUOY30.07 -87.56 970.5 16/0830 999/070 16/0449 999/095 16/0510 4DPIA1-DAUPHIN ISLAND, AL/V30.25 -88.07 981.3 16/1000 360/070 16/0810 360/086 16/0819 14MBLA1-MIDDLE BAY LIGHT, AL30.44 -88.01 979 16/1026 330/073 16/0930 330/081 16/1056 14.2REMARKS:C. STORM TOTAL RAINFALL FROM 1200 UTC SEP 14 UNTIL 1200 UTC SEP 17---------------------------------------------------------------------CITY/TOWN COUNTY ID RAINFALLLAT LON (IN)DEG DECIMAL---------------------------------------------------------------------ORANGE BEACH BALDWIN PUBLIC 29.9930.27 -87.592 E FORT MORGAN BALDWIN PUBLIC 29.3030.23 -87.994 W NAS PENSACOLA BALDWIN SPOTTER 24.8830.33 -87.392 NE PENSACOLA ESCAMBIA 22.2530.47 -87.17FOLEY BALDWIN USA CHILI 21.0430.37 -87.65ELBERTA BALDWIN USA CHILI 20.9930.41 -87.58NAVARRE SANTA ROSA PUBLIC 19.9530.41 -86.9119 WSW PENSACOLA BALDWIN FL-ES-24 19.8630.31 -87.47GULF BREEZE SANTA ROSA PUBLIC 18.9730.36 -87.162 N POLLARD ESCAMBIA AL-ES-1 18.8331.06 -87.173 ENE BREWTON ESCAMBIA COOP 17.4431.11 -87.021 E MARY ESTHER OKALOOSA FL-OK-29 17.3330.41 -86.653 WNW SUMMERDALE BALDWIN AL-BW-85 15.9230.50 -87.744 SE NICEVILLE OKALOOSA FL-OK-1 15.4730.49 -86.447 SW FOLEY BALDWIN AL-BW-8 15.3430.34 -87.78PACE SANTA ROSA PUBLIC 15.0730.60 -87.166 NE EGLIN AFB OKALOOSA FL-OK-2 14.9730.52 -86.492 ESE FT. WALTON BEACH OKALOOSA FL-OK-43 14.4030.42 -86.591 NW DESTIN OKALOOSA FL-K-33 14.2330.40 -86.490 SW RED LEVEL COVINGTON AL-CV-13 13.5531.40 -86.613 NW MILTON ESCAMBIA FL-SR-26 13.0530.66 -87.082 WSW FAIRHOPE BALDWIN AL-BW-40 12.4430.51 -87.91CRESTVIEW OKALOOSA KCEW 11.5230.78 -86.52ANDALUSIA-OPP AIRPORT COVINGTON K79J 11.3131.31 -86.39FLORALA COVINGTON K0J4 10.3431.05 -86.31DAUPHIN ISLAND MOBILE DAUA1 9.6630.25 -88.076 WSW CASTLEBERRY CONECUH AL-CC-1 9.3131.27 -87.126 S REPTON CONECUH AL-CC-2 7.8931.33 -87.2410 NW GEORGIANA BUTLER AL-BT-2 7.3731.72 -86.889 WNW TILLMANS CORNER MOBILE AL-MB-63 5.5930.61 -88.331 NNE CAMDEN WILCOX AL-WX-2 4.6532.02 -87.298 W URIAH MONROE AL-MN-3 4.5431.29 -87.64MOBILE REGIONAL AIRPORT MOBILE KMOB 3.5630.69 -88.255 SSW THOMASVILLE CLARKE AL-CK-10 2.9231.84 -87.77D. INLAND FLOODING...---------------------------------------------------------------------BALDWIN...THE FISH RIVER AND STYX RIVER REACHED MAJOR FLOOD STAGE.FLOODING WAS WIDESPREAD, ESPECIALLY ACROSS SOUTHERN BALDWIN COUNTYWHERE 20-30" OF RAIN FELL. NUMEROUS WATER RESCUES WERE CONDUCTEDDURING THE EVENT. THE FLOODING WAS EXACERBATED BY THE STORM SURGE ASALL OF THE RAIN THAT FELL HAD NOWHERE TO DRAIN.ESCAMBIA FL...FLOODING WAS WIDESPREAD, ESPECIALLY ACROSS THESOUTHERN HALF OF ESCAMBIA COUNTY WHERE THERE WAS 20-30" OF RAIN. THEFLOODING WAS COMPOUNDED BY THE STORM SURGE. DOWNTOWN PENSACOLA HADSIGNIFICANT FRESHWATER FLOODING AND RESULTED IN 2 TO 4 FEET OF WATERIN DOWNTOWN, EVEN WHERE THE STORM SURGE DID NOT REACH. THERE WEREHUNDREDS OF WATER RESCUES DURING THE STORM.SANTA ROSA...FLOODING WAS WIDESPREAD ESPECIALLY ACROSS CENTRAL ANDSOUTHERN SANTA ROSA COUNTY. 20" OF RAIN WAS REPORTED ALONG THE COASTAND LOCALIZED TOTALS COULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER. THE FRESHWATER FLOODINGWAS COMPOUNDED BY THE STORM SURGE, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE BLACKWATERRIVER AND YELLOW RIVER.OKALOOSA...THE SHOAL RIVER AND BLACKWATER RIVER REACHED MAJOR FLOODSTAGE DURING THE EVENT. THE I-10 BRIDGE OVER THE SHOAL RIVER WASCLOSED FOR A TIME. FLOODING WAS WIDESPREAD AS 10-20" OF RAIN WASREPORTED ACROSS THE COUNTY AND LOCALIZED TOTALS OVER 20" COULD HAVEOCCURRED. THE FRESHWATER FLOODING PRODUCED BY THE HEAVY RAIN WASCOMPOUNDED ALONG COASTAL AREAS BY THE STORM SURGE.ESCAMBIA AL...PARTS OF BREWTON EXPERIENCED FLOODING DUE TO THEMURDER CREEK WHICH REACH MODERATE FLOOD STAGE DURING THE EVENT.10-20" OF RAIN OCCURRED ACROSS THE COUNTY WHICH RESULTED IN FLASHFLOODING. 10 COUNTY ROADS BECAME IMPASSABLE DURING THE STORM. SOMEOF THE ROADS AND A COUPLE OF BRIDGES SUFFERED WASHOUTS.CRENSHAW...SIGNIFICANT FLOODING OCCURRED, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHERNCRENSHAW COUNTY. OVER 10" OF RAIN FELL AS A RESULT OF THE STORM.THERE WAS ONE SWIFT WATER RESCUE IN THE DRY CREEK AREA ON HIGHWAY331 JUST NORTH OF BRANTLEY. SEVERAL ROADS WERE FLOODED WITH SOMEDAMAGED.COVINGTON...10-15" OF RAIN FELL ACROSS COVINGTON COUNTY. NUMEROUSROADS WERE FLOODED AND SOME ROADS EXPERIENCED WASH OUTS FROM THEFLASH FLOODING.BUTLER...A FEW ROADS WERE FLOODED FROM HEAVY RAIN.---------------------------------------------------------------------E. MAXIMUM OBSERVED WATER LEVEL (WL)...---------------------------------------------------------------------ID CITY/TOWN COUNTY STATE WL DATUM DATE/ SOURCE OR LOCATION (FT) TIME---------------------------------------------------------------------DILA1 DAUPHIN ISLAND MOBILE AL 3.10 MHHW 15/1536 NOS30.2500 -88.0750BLBA1 BAYOU LA BATRE MOBILE AL 2.38 MHHW 15/1630 NOS30.4057 -88.2477WFRA1 W FOWL RIVER BR MOBILE AL 1.83 MHHW 15/1648 NOS30.3766 -88.1586EFRA1 E FOWL RIVER BR MOBILE AL 2.34 MHHW 15/1918 NOS30.4437 -88.1139BYSA1 DOG RIVER BRIDG MOBILE AL 1.99 MHHW 15/1748 NOS30.5652 -88.0880MCGA1 USCG SECTOR MOB MOBILE AL 1.95 MHHW 15/1654 NOS30.6483 -88.0583OBLA1 MOBILE STATE DO MOBILE AL 1.60 MHHW 15/1712 NOS30.7083 -88.0433CIKA1 CHICKASAW CREEK MOBILE AL 1.35 MHHW 15/1748 NOS30.7819 -88.0736WBYA1 WEEKS BAY BALDWIN AL 2.19 MHHW 16/1536 NOS30.4169 -87.8254PCLF1 PENSACOLA BAY ESCAMBIA FL 5.60 MHHW 16/1154 NOS30.4044 -87.2112FLOKA EAST PASS DESTI OKALOOSA FL 4.81 NAVD88 16/1210 USGS30.3948 -86.5156REMARKS: THE 5.60 FT MHHW WATER LEVEL PRODUCED BY HURRICANE SALLY ATPENSACOLA IS PRELIMINARILY THE 3RD HIGHEST WATER LEVEL ON RECORD FORTHAT LOCATION. THE ONLY HIGHER WATERS LEVELS WERE: 9.54 FT MHHW IN2004 (HURRICANE IVAN) AND 7.42 FT MHHW IN 1926 (MIAMI HURRICANE).THE USGS RAPID DEPLOYMENT GAUGE AT EAST PASS DESTIN REPORTS INNAVD88. NAVD88 IS NOT DIRECTLY TIED TO LEVELS OF INUNDATION. MHHW ISUSED AS A PROXY FOR INUNDATION ABOVE NORMALLY DRY GROUND. STORMSURGE SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY NWS MOBILE REVEAL THAT MANY AREAS FROMGULF SHORES EASTWARD TO OKALOOSA COUNTY WERE IMPACTED BY 3-6 FEET OFSURGE INUNDATION. INUNDATION REACHED AS HIGH AS 7-9 FEET ACROSSPARTS OF ORANGE BEACH, PERDIDO KEY, AND THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OFESCAMBIA, BLACKWATER, AND EAST BAYS. THESE ARE PRELIMINARY FINDINGSAND WILL CONTINUE TO BE FINE TUNED AND ADJUSTED AS DATA IS COLLECTEDAND REVIEWED.F. TORNADOES...---------------------------------------------------------------------(DIST)CITY/TOWN COUNTY DATE/ EF SCALELAT LON (DEG DECIMAL) TIME(UTC) (IF KNOWN)DESCRIPTION---------------------------------------------------------------------G. STORM IMPACTS BY COUNTY...---------------------------------------------------------------------COUNTY DEATHS INJURIES EVACUATIONSDESCRIPTION---------------------------------------------------------------------MOBILE 0 0 1THERE WAS A RECOMMENDED EVACUATION FOR LOW LYING AND SURGE PRONEAREAS OF MOBILE COUNTY. THE GREATEST IMPACT OF SALLY IN MOBILECOUNTY WAS TO DAUPHIN ISLAND, WHICH WAS IMPACTED BY THE WESTERNEYEWALL OF SALLY FOR A LONG DURATION. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WITHGUSTS OVER 100 MPH WERE RECORDED ON THE ISLAND. WINDS WERE OUT OFTHE NORTH, WHICH RESULTED IN THE BAY AND SOUND SIDE OF THE ISLANDBEING THE MOST IMPACTED. SEVERAL BUILDINGS EXPERIENCED ROOF ANDSIDING DAMAGE, INCLUDING TO TWO BUILDINGS ON THE CAMPUS OF THEDAUPHIN ISLAND SEA LAB. ANOTHER HOME ON THE ISLAND LOST ITS ROOFENTIRELY. A 3 TO 4 FOOT STORM SURGE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ISLANDRESULTED IN MAJOR DAMAGE TO DOCKS AND PIERS, INCLUDING AT THEDAUPHIN ISLAND MARINA. ACROSS MAINLAND MOBILE COUNTY, THE SOUTHERNAND CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY EXPERIENCED A LONG DURATION OFSUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS WITH HURRICANE FORCE WIND GUSTSRECORDED ALL THE WAY WEST AT THE MOBILE REGIONAL AIRPORT. IN FACT,THE 82 MPH GUST RECORDED AT THE AIRPORT WAS ALMOST AS HIGH AS THEPEAK GUST RECORDED IN HURRICANE KATRINA OF 83 MPH. NUMEROUS TREESAND POWER LINES WERE DOWNED ACROSS THE COUNTY, ESPECIALLY IN CENTRALAND SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE COUNTY. THIS RESULTED IN WIDESPREAD POWEROUTAGES. MOBILE`S BIENVILLE SQUARE SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THENUMEROUS OAKS IN THE AREA AND THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE REPORTED ATSOME BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN MOBILE. SEVERAL HOMES IN THE COUNTY ALSOEXPERIENCED ROOF, SIDING, AND FENCE DAMAGE. DOWNED TREES ALSODAMAGED SOME HOMES.BALDWIN 3 0 1A RECOMMENDED EVACUATION ORDER WAS ISSUED FOR LOW LYING FLOOD ANDSURGE PRONE AREAS OF BALDWIN COUNTY. THE COUNTY EXPERIENCEDWIDESPREAD DAMAGE AS THE EYE OF SALLY MOVED ACROSS A LARGE PORTIONOF THE COUNTY AFTER MAKING LANDFALL IN GULF SHORES, AL. A LARGESTORM SURGE RESULTED IN WIDESPREAD INUNDATION AND MAJOR FLOOD DAMAGETO STRUCTURES ALONG THE BACK BAY WATERS WITH LITTLE TO NO STRUCTURALDAMAGE TO BUILDINGS ALONG THE GULF FACING BEACHES. THERE WAS AWALKWAY AT THE COTTON BAYOU GULF ACCESS THAT WAS DAMAGED. THEGREATEST SURGE OCCURRED EAST OF GULF SHORES ACROSS ORANGE BEACH TOTHE FLORIDA STATE LINE AND ALL THE WAY NORTH INTO THE NORTHERNPORTION OF PERDIDO BAY. NUMEROUS LARGE BOATS WERE MOVED ONTO LAND BYTHE SURGE. THE 20 TO 30 INCHES OF RAIN THAT FELL ACROSS THE SOUTHERNPART OF THE COUNTY CERTAINLY COMPOUNDED THE STORM SURGE FLOODING ANDALSO RESULTED IN WIDESPREAD FLASH FLOODING AND RIVER FLOODING. THEEYEWALL OF SALLY RESULTED IN WIDESPREAD AND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TOTREES AND POWER LINES. SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN SOUTHERN BALDWIN COUNTYMEASURED SUSTAINED HURRICANE FORCE WINDS OF 75 TO 85 MPH WITH GUSTSOVER 100 MPH. THE CENTER OF SEVERE WEATHER RESEARCH RECORDED A 123MPH GUST ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PERDIDO PASS BRIDGE FROM ANANEMOMETER ON THEIR MOBILE DOPPLER RADAR UNIT WITH SUSTAINED WINDSOF 93 MPH. NUMEROUS STRUCTURES WERE DAMAGED BY FALLEN TREES AND MANYSTRUCTURES IN THE COUNTY SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT ROOF AND SIDINGDAMAGE. IN FT. MORGAN, A FEW OLDER HOMES WERE DESTROYED AND A BOATSTORAGE FACILITY AT A MARINA SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE. ALMOST ALL OFTHE COUNTY LOST POWER DURING THE STORM DUE TO SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TOTHE POWER INFRASTRUCTURE. THERE WERE THREE FATALITIES FROM THESTORM, ONE DIRECT AND TWO INDIRECT. A PERSON DROWNED IN ORANGE BEACHDURING THE STORM. ANOTHER FATALITY OCCURRED IN FOLEY DURING THE POSTSTORM CLEAN UP AND ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL DIED DUE TO CARBON MONOXIDEPOISONING FROM A GENERATOR.ESCAMBIA FL 3 0 1A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION WAS ISSUED FOR ZONE A. A COMBINATION OFSTRONG WIND AND STORM SURGE RESULTED IN WIDESPREAD DAMAGE TOESCAMBIA COUNTY. TO DATE, 1,756 STRUCTURES WERE DAMAGED. 44STRUCTURES WERE DESTROYED AND 629 SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE. HURRICANEFORCE WINDS RESULTED IN SIDING AND ROOF DAMAGE TO MANY STRUCTURES,WITH DOWNED TREES ALSO PLAYING A LARGE ROLE IN DAMAGE TO SOMESTRUCTURES. POWER OUTAGES WERE WIDESPREAD. PENSACOLA NAS RECORDEDSUSTAINED HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WITH GUSTS OF 92 MPH. A LARGE STORMSURGE IMPACTED THE COUNTY, WITH THE HIGHEST SURGE OCCURRING IN THEPERDIDO KEY AREA AND ALONG PORTIONS OF PENSACOLA AND ESCAMBIA BAYS.NUMEROUS STRUCTURES HAD SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE FROM STORM SURGEINUNDATION. NUMEROUS LARGE BOATS AND BARGES WERE MOVED ONTO LAND BYTHE SURGE. A PORTION OF THE THREE MILE BRIDGE ACROSS PENSACOLA BAYCOLLAPSED. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE STORM SURGE STRUCTURAL DAMAGEOCCURRED ALONG THE BACK BAYS AND SOUNDS AND NOT ALONG THE IMMEDIATEGULF FACING BEACHES. HOWEVER, SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OCCURRED ALONG THEGULF ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE, PARTICULARLY IN THE JOHNSON BEACHAND FT. PICKENS AREA. ON JOHNSON BEACH, THE SURGE AND WAVE ACTIONTOOK OUT A LARGE PORTION OF THE FIRST LINE OF DUNES WITH DAMAGE EVENNOTED TO SOME OF THE SECOND LINE DUNES. 4 TO 5 FT OF SAND COVEREDJOHNSON BEACH ROAD WITH DAMAGE TO THE ROAD ITSELF. NOAA AERIALIMAGERY INDICATES THAT 3 NEW CUTS WERE CREATED ON THE FAR EAST SIDEOF JOHNSON BEACH. THE SURGE ALONG THE GULF SIDE OF PERDIDO KEY WASALSO NOTABLE AS THE WATER LINE ENCROACHED UPON THE ENTRANCE OF SOMEOF THE CONDOS AND DAMAGED WALKWAYS AND POOLS. THE COPIOUS AMOUNTS OFRAIN ALSO COMPOUNDED THE STORM SURGE ISSUE AS WATER THAT NORMALLYWOULD DRAIN INTO AREA BAYS, RIVERS, CREEKS, AND STREAMS HAD NOWHERETO GO DUE TO THE INCOMING STORM SURGE. DOWNTOWN PENSACOLA WAS ONENOTABLE AREA HARD HIT BY THIS FRESH WATER FLOODING, BUT COUNTLESSOTHER LOCATIONS, ESPECIALLY ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ESCAMBIACOUNTY, WERE ALSO HARD HIT BY THIS FLOODING. THERE WERE 3 REPORTEDFATALITIES, TWO DIRECT AND ONE INDIRECT. ONE PERSON DIED WHILETRYING TO RETRIEVE A BOAT DURING THE STORM AND ANOTHER PERSON DIEDWHILE KAYAKING DURING THE STORM. ONE PERSON DIED AFTER THE STORM DUETO CARBON MONOXIDE FROM A GENERATOR BEING RAN INDOORS.SANTA ROSA 0 0 1A LARGE STORM SURGE HAD ITS GREATEST IMPACT ON THE SOUND AND BAYSIDES OF SANTA ROSA COUNTY. THE LARGEST SURGE OCCURRED IN THENORTHERN HALF OF ESCAMBIA BAY AS WELL AS IN BLACKWATER AND EAST BAY.NUMEROUS HOMES SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT INUNDATION FROM THE SURGE. THESURGE FLOODING WAS COMPOUNDED BY 20+ INCHES OF RAIN THAT FELL WHICHALSO RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT TO MAJOR FLASH FLOODING AND RIVERFLOODING. HURRICANE FORCE WIND GUSTS ALSO RESULTED IN ROOF ANDSIDING DAMAGE TO MANY HOMES, EXTENSIVE DOWNED TREES, AND POWERLINES. TO DATE, AROUND 1,400 RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES HAVE BEENIDENTIFIED AS BEING IMPACTED WITH 6 BEING DESTROYED AND 139SUFFERING MAJOR DAMAGE. 19 COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTEDAS BEING IMPACTED WITH MAJOR DAMAGE TO 4 BUILDINGS. A VOLUNTARYEVACUATION WAS ISSUED FOR ZONE A.OKALOOSA 0 0 0A LONG DURATION OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS IMPACTED OKALOOSACOUNTY AS THE CENTER OF HURRICANE SALLY TRACKED VERY SLOWLY TO THEEAST AND NORTH OF THE COUNTY. SIGNIFICANT STORM SURGE IMPACTEDCOASTAL AREAS, ESPECIALLY IN WESTERN PARTS OF OKALOOSA COUNTY CLOSERTO THE SANTA ROSA LINE. MANY HOMES ON THE SOUND SIDE OF THE MARYESTHER AREA WERE INUNDATED BY THE SURGE FLOODING. PORTIONS OFHIGHWAY 98 ON OKALOOSA ISLAND WERE BREACHED BY THE SURGE FLOODING,HOWEVER THE ROAD WAS NOT DAMAGED. A 2 FT SEAWALL WAS BREACHED IN FT.WALTON BEACH WITH 2 TO 3 FT OF WATER COVERED ADJACENT PORTIONS OFHIGHWAY 98. WALKOVERS AND BEACH SIDE DOCKS WERE DISPLACED ON THEGULF SIDE. A FEW RESTAURANTS AND HOMES SUFFERED SOME FLOODING ALONGCALHOUN AVENUE, LIKELY FROM A COMBINATION OF THE TORRENTIAL RAINFALLAND STORM SURGE. THE COPIOUS RAINFALL ALSO RESULTED IN FLASHFLOODING AND MAJOR RIVER FLOODING, WHICH ALSO FLOODED HOMES IN THECOUNTY.ESCAMBIA AL 0 0 0WIDESPREAD TREES WERE DOWNED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. SOME OF THETREES FELL ONTO HOMES, BUT MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS MINOR. HOWEVER, 4HOMES SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE FROM THE FALLEN TREES. AT THE PEAK OFTHE EVENT, 85% OF THE COUNTY WAS WITHOUT POWER. TORRENTIAL RAINFALLOF 10 TO 20 INCHES LED TO FLASH FLOODING AND RIVER FLOODING,RESULTING IN THE 10 COUNTY ROADS BECOMING IMPASSABLE DURING THESTORM. SOME OF THE ROADS SUFFERED WASH OUTS. A COUPLE OF BRIDGESEXPERIENCED WASH OUTS AS WELL.COVINGTON 0 0 0FIVE HOMES SUFFERED WIND DAMAGE AS TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDSIMPACTED COVINGTON COUNTY. TREES AND POWER LINES WERE DOWNED WHICHRESULTED IN SOME POWER OUTAGES. NUMEROUS ROADS WERE FLOODED ANDIMPASSABLE. SEVERAL ROADS ALSO SUFFERED WASH OUTS DUE TO THEEXTENSIVE FLOODING.CRENSHAW 0 0 0TROPICAL STORM FORCE WIND GUSTS DOWNED SOME TREES AND POWER LINES INTHE COUNTY. SIGNIFICANT FLOODING ALSO OCCURRED, ESPECIALLY IN THESOUTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTY. NUMEROUS ROADS WERE IMPASSABLE AND SOMEEXPERIENCED WASHOUTS.MONROE 0 0 0TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS DOWNED NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINESACROSS MONROE COUNTY.CLARKE 0 0 0TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS DOWNED TREES ACROSS THE COUNTY. ONE TREEFELL ONTO A HOME IN GROVE HILL, RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.CONECUH 0 0 0TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES IN THECOUNTY.BUTLER 0 0 0TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES ACROSSPORTIONS OF THE COUNTY. A FEW HOMES SUFFERED MINOR DAMAGE FROMFALLEN TREES. SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES WERE REPORTED. A FEW ROADSWERE FLOODED FROM HEAVY RAIN.$$LEGEND:I-INCOMPLETE DATAE-ESTIMATEDBEAMAN
National Geodetic Survey Emergency Response Imagery
National Geodetic Survey Before/After Imagery
USGS Flood Event Viewer for Hurricane Sally
NOAA Hurricane Hunter Reconnaissance
CIMSS Satellite Imagery
Florida DEP Post-Storm Report
National Weather Association2021 Annual Meeting- Sally's Forecast Challenges
NWS Local Write-Ups and Webpages:
NWS Tallahassee
NWS Lake Charles
Acknowledgements: Page created by Morgan Barry (forecaster), Don Shepherd (lead forecaster), Jason Beaman (Warning Coordination Meteorologist), & Joe Maniscalco (Observation Program Leader). Updated by Michael Mugrage (Forecaster).LAST UPDATED: March 2024
