Rip Current in Alabama, August 12, 2008

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
340 PM CDT TUE AUG 12 2008

.SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT)...MAIN CHALLENGES IN
THE SHORT CENTER AROUND SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND HEAVY RAIN CHANCES
DURING THE NEXT 12 TO 18 HOURS AS SFC LOW TRACKS EASTWARD ACROSS
SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE
BEEN FAIRLY WIDESPREAD ACROSS INTERIOR SECTIONS OF SOUTHEAST
MS...SOUTHWEST AL AND NORTHWEST FL DURING THE DAY WITH COASTAL AREAS
REMAINING MAINLY DRY. HOWEVER...COVERAGES ARE RAPIDLY INCREASING TO
OUR WEST ACROSS SOUTHERN LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI AND THIS WILL
CONTINUE TO SPREAD EASTWARD ACROSS THE ENTIRE GULF COAST REGION
THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY. AS THE SFC LOW TRACKS EASTWARD THROUGH
TONIGHT...LOW LEVEL SHEAR VALUES WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE AND WHEN
COMBINED WITH MARGINALLY FAVORABLE INSTABILITY VALUES WILL LEAD TO A
THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS INCLUDING ISOLATED TORNADOES. TORNADO
WATCH #823 IS NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH 10 PM THIS EVENING AND A SLIGHT
RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS CONTINUES THROUGH TONIGHT. NOT EXPECTING A
TORNADO OUTBREAK BY ANY MEANS...BUT UNUSUALLY HIGH AMOUNTS OF SHEAR
FOR MID-AUGUST AND JUST ENOUGH INSTABILITY LEAD TO THE POTENTIAL OF
A FEW WEAK TORNADOES. THE MAIN THREATS WILL LIKELY REMAIN DAMAGING
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. GENERAL RAINFALL
AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE EXPECTED WITH ISOLATED HIGHER TOTALS
EXPECTED ESPECIALLY WITH TRAINING THUNDERSTORMS OVERNIGHT INTO
WEDNESDAY MORNING. FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE REMAINS HIGH AND FORECAST
RAINFALL DOES NOT EXCEED VALUES AND A FLASH FLOOD WATCH WILL NOT BE
ISSUED AS ANY FLOODING SHOULD REMAIN HIGHLY LOCALIZED. AS THE THE
SFC LOW PULLS EAST OF THE AREA WEDNESDAY MORNING THE ASSOCIATED
FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL MOVE SOUTH TOWARD THE COAST AND OFFSHORE BY
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. THIS WILL SEND THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
OFFSHORE BY THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY WITH A DRIER AIRMASS
MOVING INTO THE AREA IN ITS WAKE. TEMPERATURES START THE PERIOD
BELOW NORMAL BUT RECOVER TO NEAR NORMAL BY THURSDAY AS PARTLY CLOUDY
SKIES RETURN. /13

.LONG TERM...(FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY)...UPPER LEVEL FLOW WILL BECOME
INCREASINGLY ZONAL LATE IN THE WEEK AS ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM TAKES
SHAPE IN THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. THIS WILL ALSO MOISTURE LEVELS TO
INCREASE THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE SURFACE LOW OVER THE SOUTHERN
PLAINS WILL SHIFT OFF TO THE NORTHEAST INTO MONDAY AS RIDGING BUILDS
OVER THE CENTRAL GULF COAST. THIS WILL RETURN THE AREA TO TYPICAL
SCATTERED AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM
CHANCES FOR THE WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. TEMPERATURES WILL
CONTINUE NEAR CLIMATOLOGICAL VALUES. /13

&&

.AVIATION...AVIATION UPDATE FOR 00Z...MVFR OVER MOST OF THE AREA AT
MID AFTERNOON DESPITE THE RAIN. CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE INTO IFR
POSSIBLY LIFR FOR BRIEF PERIODS IN +TSRA DUE TO C/V. POSSIBILITY OF
HEAVY RAIN BAND MOVING EAST ACROSS THE COASTAL AREAS AROUND SUNRISE
WITH ADDITIONAL IFR CONDITIONS. IMPROVING BY LATE MORNING TO MVFR.
/11

&&

.MARINE...WEAK SURFACE LOW OVER SOUTHERN ARKANSAS AT MID AFTERNOON
IS EXPECTED TO MOVE EASTERLY ALONG OLD FRONTAL BOUNDARY IN
JUXTAPOSITION WITH A WEAK UPPER DISTURBANCE. WINDS OVER THE MARINE
AREA HAVE ALREADY INCREASED TO BETWEEN 15 AND 20 KNOTS WITH A
CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN WAVE HEIGHTS. EXPECT SMALL CRAFT
CONDITIONS TO BE MET BY THIS EVENING AND CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON WHEN WINDS WILL EASE UP WITH SEAS DIMINISHING BY WEDNESDAY
EVENING. ANY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MAY NOT BE UNTIL LATE TONIGHT INTO
WEDNESDAY MORNING AS THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY IS PUSHED SOUTH BY THE
RAIN COOLED AIR MASS TO THE NORTH. BY THURSDAY  A SURFACE RIDGE WILL
BEGIN TO BUILD BACK TO THE WEST ACROSS THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO
AND CONDITIONS RETURN TO MORE TYPICAL SUMMER TIME. /11

&&

.HYDROLOGY...RECENT HEAVY RAINS HAVE CAUSED 3 AREA RIVERS TO RISE TO
ABOVE ACTION STAGES...THE SHOAL AND FISH RIVERS ALONG WITH THE BIG
COLDWATER CREEK...MORE HEAVY RAINFALL IS EXPECTED TONIGHT AND ON
WEDNESDAY WHICH COULD CAUSE THE AFFECTED RIVERS TO RISE EVEN
FURTHER. GENERALLY BETWEEN 2 TO 4 INCHES OF RAINFALL IS EXPECTED
ALONG THE NORTHWESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

04/KC

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MOBILE      74  87  69  92 /  80  50  20  20
PENSACOLA   75  87  72  91 /  80  60  30  20
DESTIN      74  86  74  90 /  80  60  30  20
EVERGREEN   71  85  64  91 /  90  40  10  10
WAYNESBORO  72  87  67  92 /  80  30  10  05
CAMDEN      70  85  67  92 / 100  30  10  10

&&

.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...NONE.
FL...NONE.
MS...NONE.
GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 7 PM TUESDAY TO 10 PM WEDNESDAY FOR
     THE FOLLOWING ZONES: COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO
     PENSACOLA FL OUT 20 NM...COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL
     TO PASCAGOULA MS OUT 20 NM...MOBILE BAY...WATERS FROM
     DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM...AND WATERS FROM
     PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS FROM 20 TO 60 NM.

&&

13.JC
11.DF

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1158 AM CDT TUE AUG 12 2008

ALZ051>064-FLZ001>006-GMZ630-650-655-670-675-MSZ067-075-076-078-
079-131700-
CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE-
LOWER BALDWIN-INLAND ESCAMBIA-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-INLAND SANTA ROSA-
COASTAL SANTA ROSA-INLAND OKALOOSA-COASTAL OKALOOSA-MOBILE BAY-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM-WAYNE-PERRY-
GREENE-STONE-GEORGE-
1158 AM CDT TUE AUG 12 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
ALABAMA...SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI AND THE COASTAL WATERS OF ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING.

A WEAK UPPER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WAS MOVING EAST OUT OF TEXAS AND
OVER A MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS ENTRENCHED OVER THE DEEP SOUTH.
AS THE UPPER LOW MOVES EAST...LOW LEVEL WINDS WILL INCREASE IN THE
VICINITY OF THE LOW AND A STATIONARY FRONT SITUATED EAST WEST OVER
THE SOUTH CENTRAL SECTIONS OF ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI. SOME SEVERE
STORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY OVER THE INTERIOR
SECTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHWEST ALABAMA. AN ISOLATED
BRIEF TORNADO CAN NOT BE RULED OUT....ESPECIALLY NEAR THE FRONTAL
ZONE. RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS LATER TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING
MAY BECOME SEVERE AT TIMES...ESPECIALLY OVER THE NORTHERN
COUNTIES...NORTH OF U.S. HIGHWAY 84. AN ISOLATED TORNADO MAY BE
POSSIBLE. PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN WILL OCCUR AS THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY
SAGS SOUTH TO THE COAST.

OVER THE COASTAL WATERS...SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE THROUGH
THE AFTERNOON WITH BUILDING SEAS CREATING HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR
SMALL CRAFT. THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG AREA BEACHES
THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY

SURF CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN HAZARDOUS INTO WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON...WITH SEAS SLOWLY SUBSIDING AS THE OFFSHORE WINDS
SUBSIDE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BE NEEDED
AT TIMES LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
354 PM CDT TUE AUG 12 2008

ALZ061-062-122145-
UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BAY MINETTE...
354 PM CDT TUE AUG 12 2008

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT BALDWIN AND MOBILE COUNTIES...

AT 349 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 3 MILES NORTHEAST OF COCHRANE BRIDGE...MOVING
EAST AT 33 MPH.

THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS OVER NORTHERN BALDWIN COUNTY IN
AND AROUND...HURRICANE...CROSSROADS...CARPENTER...WHITEHOUSE
FORKS...STAPLETON...DOUGLASVILLE AND BAY MINETTE THROUGH 445 PM CDT.

THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THIS STORM ARE SMALL HAIL...FREQUENT
LIGHTNING...AND WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG COULD
BRING DOWN DEAD OR DISEASED TREES AND LARGE LIMBS RESULTING IN
SERIOUS INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. LOCAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER MAY
RESULT FROM DOWNED POWER LINES. EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN
OUTDOORS DURING SUCH STRONG WINDS...OR SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE HOME OR
BUILDING UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

THIS STORM COULD PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE AND ONE-HALF INCHES
IN AN HOUR...RESULTING IN BRIEF PONDING OF WATER AROUND LOW LYING
AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. REMEMBER...DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
WATER COVERED ROADWAYS. THE DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW A SAFE
CROSSING.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
551 PM CDT TUE AUG 12 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0425 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     W BELLEVILLE            31.21N 89.13W
08/12/2008                   PERRY              MS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            FUNNEL CLOUD SPOTTED ALONG HIGHWAY 98 NEAR THE PERRY
            COUNTY BOARDER

0516 PM     TSTM WND DMG     AVENT                   30.98N 88.76W
08/12/2008                   GEORGE             MS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN ON HIGHWAY 57 ALONG THE GEORGE AND GREENE
            COUNTY LINE

&&

JC