Tropical Storm Sally expected to hit Gulf Coast as a hurricane

Tropical Storm Sally is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane as it approaches the Gulf Coast Monday morning.

As of late Sunday night, the storm was about 185 miles east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River with sustained winds of 60 mph, and was moving northwest at 8 mph.

The storm’s track had a notable shift eastward late Sunday, increasing the odds of a more significant impact on the Mississippi coast and potentially lowering the impacts on southeastern Louisiana, including New Orleans. But the shift doesn’t mean New Orleans is in the clear yet.

Sally is forecast to bring life-threatening storm surge, hurricane winds and torrential rain along the Gulf Coast beginning Monday.

The storm is expected to near the southeastern Louisiana or southern Mississippi coast by late Monday, then slow down significantly. The storm is expected to strike the coast as a strong Category 1 or possibly low-end Category 2 hurricane.

Heavy rain continues to fall on the eastern side of Sally, especially from the Florida Keys to Sarasota.

Key West, Florida, recorded nearly 4 inches of rain in just one hour overnight causing flash flooding there. Additionally, Key West observed 9.37 inches of rain Saturday.

Flood watches have been issued for a large part of the Southeast U.S.

Regardless of the wind speed of Sally, the primary and most major concern remains the water.

Sally’s outer bands should begin to reach the Gulf Coast Monday morning with significant progress inland not expected until Wednesday morning.

This likely allows for up to 48 hours of storm surge and rainfall which could be a very dangerous situation.

The rainfall forecast now calls for up to 20 inches along the Gulf Coast. As with all hurricanes, this rainfall will be realized east of the center and could cause major flash flooding.

The storm surge forecast is now up to 11 feet, again east of the center.

Hancock County, Mississippi, issued orders for a mandatory evacuation beginning Monday at 7 a.m. local time, for all low-lying areas and residents living on rivers, river inlets, bayous and creeks, and in travel trailers, modular homes, mobile homes, homes under construction and partially constructed homes.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves issued a state of emergency Sunday evening, hours after New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell did the same for her city.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said that the storm poses a “very significant threat to the people of Southeast Louisiana,” in a statement Sunday.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey also said her state is “keeping a close eye” on the storm and that “it is likely that this storm system will be impacting Alabama’s Gulf Coast.”

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