Hurricane Sally Prompts Evacuations Along Gulf Coast As Landfall Expected On Tuesday

Topline

Parts of the Gulf Coast are being warned of the likelihood of a life-threatening storm surge, high winds and flash flooding as Hurricane Sally, the 18th named storm in this year’s Atlantic storm season, is set to make landfall on Tuesday or Wednesday, the National Hurricane Centre warned.

Key Facts

Big Number

90mph. That’s how strong Sally’s winds were as of Tuesday morning, the NHC said. This is slightly down, however forecasters expect winds to pick up strength throughout the day.

What To Watch For

A storm surge warning is in effect for parts of Louisiana and Florida’s Walton County, while a hurricane warning is in place for Grand Isle, Louisiana and Navarre, Florida, as well as parts of New Orleans. Parts of Florida and Louisiana are also under Tropical Storm warnings, meaning such conditions are expected within the next 36 hours, according to the NHC.

Key Background

Hurricane Sally is the second strong storm to hit the Gulf Coast, weeks after the same region was hit by the devastating Hurricane Laura, a Category 4 storm that was also the strongest to hit Louisiana since 1856. It comes in an extraordinary season that has seen a rare eight hurricanes and tropical storms to hit the U.S., according to senior meteorologist Dan Kottlowski, who spoke to Reuters. This year’s Atlantic storm season is thought to be one of the strongest ever recorded, however this year’s event is of even greater concern due to the coronavirus pandemic, as hundreds of thousands of people have been put under evacuation orders, raising concerns about the potential spread of the virus in an emergency and forcing authorities to prepare early.

Further Reading

Slow-Moving Hurricanes Near Coasts Are Flood Nightmares – Why Sally Is A Threat (Forbes)

Coronavirus And An Active Hurricane Season Are Bad News – 3 Concerns As Gonzalo Forms (Forbes)

Hurricane Laura’s Brutal Aftermath: 280,000 Without Clean Water, Oil Spills, Swarms Of Mosquitoes Killing Off Cattle (Forbes)