Hurricane Sally made landfall early Wednesday morning on September 16, near Gulf Shores, Alabama. Sally weakened quickly after moving inland and tracked northeast across southeast Alabama during the overnight hours on Wednesday, September 16th, and the morning hours on Thursday, September 17th.
Every event with a place to put it; 10 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS BMX wrote it up.
Hurricane Sally made landfall early Wednesday morning on September 16, near Gulf Shores, Alabama. Sally weakened quickly after moving inland and tracked northeast across southeast Alabama during the overnight hours on Wednesday, September 16th, and the morning hours on Thursday, September 17th.
The main impacts for Central Alabama were felt along and south of Interstate 85, where 4-8 inches of rain fell, with localized amounts near 12 inches. Wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph were also reported, with numerous reports of uprooted trees. Several counties also reported flash flooding.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 16, 11:35 AM CST, 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Birmingham AL 1235 PM CDT Wed Sep 16 2020 .SHORT TERM... /Updated at 455 AM CDT Wed Sep 16 2020/ Today through Thursday night. This AM, Hurricane Sally is bearing down on the AL/FL coast line. The main changes from our previous forecast will be a faster progression on the back end of the Sally track across Central Alabama. Due to the overall quicker progression, we have made a few changes. The first will be QPF. With the quick turn to the northeast that is expected, the highest rainfall amounts should be in the Interstate 85 corridor. The faster progression will lower the storm total values. While we are not planning to remove anyone from the Flash Flood Watch just yet, storm total values are lower and will be expiring the hazard grid at 18z Thu instead of 00z Fri. The wind advisory will trend in the same direction except that we will expire the hazard by 12z Thu. Looking at the latest values, will tweak the wind advisory area to add another row of counties to the north. It will be marginal in the northern row, but the possibilities are there. As far as max gusts, that was only tweaked slightly to around 45 mph from 50 mph. For the severe threat, we are not really thinking about any changes to the area. The Interstate 85 corridor and southward still holds a marginal tornado threat this afternoon and evening. However, with the faster speed expected, will start and end the threat a little earlier at noon instead of 3pm and ending around 11pm instead of 1am. Temperatures are a non issue today with cloudy skies, mild temperatures are expected. However, initially at least with a stationary boundary draped across C AL, our dew points across much of the area are in the lower to middle 60s. We will need to do some moistening of our column this morning as well as get some lower cloud decks in before any significant rain amounts are expected. Across the south so far amounts have been light and manageable, but that will change as Sally moves closer during today and heavier bands push into the southern counties. By Thursday, what remains of Sally will be moving into GA during the day and thus our parameters will be ramping down with the best rain chances in the east early on. The heavier rain will also move east as well, thus the truncating of the flash flood watch. Temperatures will rebound some with slightly higher readings expected. 08 .LONG TERM... /Updated at 1220 PM CDT Wed Sep 16 2020/ Thursday night...as Sally continues to the east...rain will continue to weaken and move to the east overnight. Low and mid level flow will transition to out of the north bringing in cooler and drier air...limiting rainfall potential by Friday afternoon. Only have in slight chance for a stray shower for any remaining moisture Friday afternoon. Saturday...flow will transition to out of the northwest...keeping cooler air over the state. Models are trying to hint at a low pressure developing over the Gulf and approaching southern Alabama by late weekend. Confidence is low on this system gathering strength...so only included a slight chance for scattered showers beginning Saturday night across the southern counties...and remaining through Monday early afternoon. Clouds will remain cloudy with this system moving across the state...with high temperatures only in the upper 70's and lower 80's through Monday. By Monday night...high pressure develops over the lower MS River valley...with flow remaining from the northerly direction. This will keep air cooler and conditions dry through the end of the extended. 24 Previous long-term discussion: /Updated at 455 AM CDT Wed Sep 16 2020/ Friday through Tuesday. By Friday morning, remnants of Sally will be accelerating toward the East Coast with interaction of a shortwave trough and southwesterly flow aloft. In the low-levels, cold/dry advection via northerly and northeasterly flow will usher in a stable continental airmass from the northern CONUS. High pressure is forecast to then encompass much of the eastern CONUS and generally extend it's presence into the Deep South. Outside of a stray shower across the southeast counties where some guidance indicates isolated development in association with a lingering mid-level jet streak and weak isentropic ascent, dry weather should be the primary theme heading into the long-term period. With drier air moving into the region, dewpoints are forecast to steadily decline from the 50s & 60s on Friday to the 50s area-wide by Sunday. As a result, sensible weather will become more fall-like with overnight lows in the low to upper 50s from this weekend into early next week. By then the upper-level flow regime will become more zonal with perhaps a broad, weak split-flow aloft. This developing pattern suggests no mentionable rain chances through mid next week as moisture and synoptic forcing remain out of the area. 40/Sizemore && .AVIATION... 12Z TAF Discussion. Sally has made landfall along the AL Gulf Coast and is moving to the north/northeast. Effects from Sally will be noted by all C AL TAFs today with very elevated and gusty winds. Heavy at times, mainly showers (isolated thunder due to tropical nature) will also be observed. MVFR to IFR conditions (and possible a few LIFR reports) will spread across the area today continuing into tonight as Sally moves NE across the SE part of AL. 08 && .FIRE WEATHER... Area-wide moisture will continue to increase from the south as Tropical System Sally moves into southern Alabama. Rain chances and afternoon RH values are likely to remain quite elevated through Thursday, particularly south of I-20. Periods of heavy rainfall could lead to flooding across these areas this afternoon and into Thursday. Gusty winds are also possible in these areas as the remnant low moves along the I-65/85 corridor. Meanwhile, drier and cooler air will being to wrap in behind the system from the north. This drier and more stable airmass will eventually infiltrate much of the area by this weekend. Rainfall is not expected during this time and into early next week. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Gadsden 66 79 63 79 61 / 90 80 30 10 10 Anniston 67 78 64 80 62 / 100 90 40 20 10 Birmingham 67 81 66 80 63 / 80 70 30 10 10 Tuscaloosa 68 84 67 82 63 / 70 50 30 10 10 Calera 67 79 66 79 63 / 90 70 30 10 10 Auburn 67 76 66 78 65 / 100 90 40 20 20 Montgomery 70 79 68 81 66 / 100 70 40 20 10 Troy 70 79 68 81 66 / 100 70 40 20 20 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES/... Flash Flood Watch through Thursday afternoon for the following counties: Autauga...Barbour...Bibb...Bullock...Calhoun... Chambers...Cherokee...Chilton...Clay...Cleburne...Coosa... Dallas...Elmore...Etowah...Hale...Lee...Lowndes...Macon... Marengo...Montgomery...Perry...Pike...Randolph...Russell... Shelby...St. Clair...Talladega...Tallapoosa. Wind Advisory until 7 AM CDT Thursday for the following counties: Autauga...Barbour...Bibb...Bullock...Chambers... Chilton...Coosa...Dallas...Elmore...Greene...Hale...Lee... Lowndes...Macon...Marengo...Montgomery...Perry...Pike... Russell...Sumter...Tallapoosa. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Birmingham AL 601 AM CDT Wed Sep 16 2020 ALZ011>015-017>050-171415- Marion-Lamar-Fayette-Winston-Walker-Blount-Etowah-Calhoun-Cherokee- Cleburne-Pickens-Tuscaloosa-Jefferson-Shelby-St. Clair-Talladega- Clay-Randolph-Sumter-Greene-Hale-Perry-Bibb-Chilton-Coosa-Tallapoosa- Chambers-Marengo-Dallas-Autauga-Lowndes-Elmore-Montgomery-Macon- Bullock-Lee-Russell-Pike-Barbour- 601 AM CDT Wed Sep 16 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham. .DAY ONE...Outlook through Tonight. The latest forecast regarding Sally brings the system through Central Alabama today into early Thursday. The southern half of the area will see wind impacts with sustained winds of 15 to 30 mph and gusts up to 45 mph. Heavy rains along a line generally south of Interstate 59 may cause flash flooding today and tonight. There will also be a marginal tornado threat this afternoon into this evening from noon through 11 pm along and south of the Interstate 85 corridor. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Sally will be pushing into Georgia on Thursday. Rainfall should be decreasing but some linger flash flooding will be possible early in the eastern portions of Central Alabama. River flooding will also become an issue after amounts begin to pile up. Rivers will rise, and some will remain above flood stage through the beginning of next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management will likely be needed today into tonight. Please follow all local, state, and CDC guidelines in regards to travel. 08
The Ft Rucker radar (KEOX), 61 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:48 UTC.
10 strong wind, 4 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees uprooted in the city of Troy and across Pike County.
Heavy rainfall from Tropical Cyclone Sally produced rainfall amounts of 9-12 inches across Pike County, resulting in numerous flooded roadways, mainly across the southern portion of the county.
Heavy rainfall from Tropical Cyclone Sally produced rainfall amounts of 9-12 inches across Barbour County, resulting in numerous flooded roadways, mainly across the southern portion of the county. A car was swept in river when a bridge washed out along Jack Hightower Road. No injuries reported.
Tropical Cyclone Sally produced wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph for several hours across Pike County. Numerous trees were reported uprooted across the county.
Tropical Cyclone Sally produced wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph for several hours across Barbour County. Numerous trees were reported uprooted across the county.
Tropical Cyclone Sally produced wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph for several hours across Autauga County. Numerous trees were reported uprooted across the county.
Tropical Cyclone Sally produced wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph for several hours across Montgomery County. Numerous trees were reported uprooted across the county.
Tropical Cyclone Sally produced wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph for several hours across Elmore County. Numerous trees were reported uprooted across the county.
Tropical Cyclone Sally produced wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph for several hours across Russell County. Numerous trees were reported uprooted across the county.
Tropical Cyclone Sally produced wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph for several hours across Macon County. Numerous trees were reported uprooted across the county.
Tropical Cyclone Sally produced wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph for several hours across southern Tallapoosa County. Numerous trees were reported uprooted across the southern part of the county.
Tropical Cyclone Sally produced wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph for several hours across Bullock County. Numerous trees were reported uprooted across the county.
Tropical Cyclone Sally produced wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph for several hours across Lee County. Numerous trees were reported uprooted across the county.
Heavy rainfall from Tropical Cyclone Sally produced rainfall amounts of 6-10 inches across Russell County, resulting in numerous flooded roadways, mainly across the southern portion of the county.
Heavy rainfall from Tropical Cyclone Sally produced rainfall amounts of 6-10 inches across Bullock County, resulting in flooded roadways. Roads reported closed include Highway 82 in the city of Union Springs and along Highway 29.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, September 2020
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 921308, 921309, 921310, 921601, 921603, 921605, 921599, 921602, 921618, 921626, 921627, 921628, 921629, 921311, 921312.