559  
WTUS84 KBMX 272026  
HLSBMX  
ALZ018>021-024>029-032>044-280430-  
 
TROPICAL STORM ZETA LOCAL STATEMENT INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 12A  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL AL282020  
326 PM CDT TUE OCT 27 2020  
 
THIS PRODUCT COVERS CENTRAL ALABAMA  
 
**TROPICAL STORM WATCH ISSUED FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALABAMA**  
 
NEW INFORMATION  
---------------  
 
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- A TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR BIBB, CALHOUN,  
CHAMBERS, CHEROKEE, CLAY, CLEBURNE, ETOWAH, HALE, JEFFERSON,  
RANDOLPH, SHELBY, ST. CLAIR, TALLADEGA, AND TALLAPOOSA  
 
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR AUTAUGA, BIBB, CALHOUN,  
CHAMBERS, CHEROKEE, CHILTON, CLAY, CLEBURNE, COOSA, DALLAS,  
ELMORE, ETOWAH, HALE, JEFFERSON, LOWNDES, MARENGO, MONTGOMERY,  
PERRY, RANDOLPH, SHELBY, ST. CLAIR, TALLADEGA, AND TALLAPOOSA  
 
* STORM INFORMATION:  
- ABOUT 810 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF BIRMINGHAM AL OR ABOUT 740  
MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF MONTGOMERY AL  
- 22.1N 90.1W  
- STORM INTENSITY 65 MPH  
- MOVEMENT NORTHWEST OR 305 DEGREES AT 14 MPH  
 
SITUATION OVERVIEW  
------------------  
 
TROPICAL STORM ZETA WAS LOCATED JUST OFFSHORE OF THE NORTHERN COAST OF  
THE YUCATAN PENINSULA AND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE MOVING INTO THE  
SOUTHERN GULF OF MEXICO TONIGHT. ZETA WILL RE-STRENGTHEN INTO A  
HURRICANE TONIGHT. ZETA IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL ALONG THE  
NORTHERN GULF COAST BY WEDNESDAY EVENING AND MOVE QUICKLY ACROSS  
CENTRAL ALABAMA WEDNESDAY NIGHT. A SWATH OF 30 TO 40 MPH WIND IS  
EXPECTED TO OCCUR ALONG AND TO THE RIGHT OF ZETA'S TRACK, ROUGHLY SOUTH  
OF INTERSTATE 59, WITH GUSTS OF 40 TO 55 MPH POSSIBLE. RAINFALL  
AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE EXPECTED WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS,  
WHICH MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING. THERE IS ALSO A LOW THREAT OF  
A BRIEF TORNADO WEDNESDAY NIGHT ACROSS SOUTHERN AND SOUTHEASTERN  
PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA.  
 
POTENTIAL IMPACTS  
-----------------  
 
* WIND:  
PREPARE FOR DANGEROUS WIND HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ACROSS  
CENTRAL ALABAMA. POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE:  
- SOME DAMAGE TO ROOFING AND SIDING MATERIALS, ALONG WITH DAMAGE  
TO PORCHES, AWNINGS, CARPORTS, AND SHEDS. A FEW BUILDINGS  
EXPERIENCING WINDOW, DOOR, AND GARAGE DOOR FAILURES. MOBILE  
HOMES DAMAGED, ESPECIALLY IF UNANCHORED. UNSECURED LIGHTWEIGHT  
OBJECTS BECOME DANGEROUS PROJECTILES.  
- SEVERAL LARGE TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED, BUT WITH GREATER  
NUMBERS IN PLACES WHERE TREES ARE SHALLOW ROOTED. SEVERAL  
FENCES AND ROADWAY SIGNS BLOWN OVER.  
- SOME ROADS IMPASSABLE FROM LARGE DEBRIS, AND MORE WITHIN URBAN  
OR HEAVILY WOODED PLACES. A FEW BRIDGES, CAUSEWAYS, AND ACCESS  
ROUTES IMPASSABLE.  
- SCATTERED POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGES, BUT MORE PREVALENT  
IN AREAS WITH ABOVE GROUND LINES.  
 
* FLOODING RAIN:  
PREPARE FOR DANGEROUS RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT  
IMPACTS ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA. POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- MODERATE RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT SEVERAL EVACUATIONS AND  
RESCUES.  
- RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY QUICKLY BECOME SWOLLEN WITH SWIFTER  
CURRENTS AND OVERSPILL THEIR BANKS IN A FEW PLACES, ESPECIALLY  
IN USUALLY VULNERABLE SPOTS. SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, CANALS,  
ARROYOS, AND DITCHES OVERFLOW.  
- FLOOD WATERS CAN ENTER SOME STRUCTURES OR WEAKEN FOUNDATIONS.  
SEVERAL PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE EXPANDED AREAS OF RAPID  
INUNDATION AT UNDERPASSES, LOW-LYING SPOTS, AND POOR DRAINAGE  
AREAS. SOME STREETS AND PARKING LOTS TAKE ON MOVING WATER AS  
STORM DRAINS AND RETENTION PONDS OVERFLOW. DRIVING CONDITIONS  
BECOME HAZARDOUS. SOME ROAD AND BRIDGE CLOSURES.  
 
* TORNADOES:  
PREPARE FOR A TORNADO EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS  
SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA. POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- THE OCCURRENCE OF ISOLATED TORNADOES CAN HINDER THE EXECUTION  
OF EMERGENCY PLANS DURING TROPICAL EVENTS.  
- A FEW PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE TORNADO DAMAGE, ALONG WITH POWER  
AND COMMUNICATIONS DISRUPTIONS.  
- LOCATIONS COULD REALIZE ROOFS PEELED OFF BUILDINGS, CHIMNEYS  
TOPPLED, MOBILE HOMES PUSHED OFF FOUNDATIONS OR OVERTURNED,  
LARGE TREE TOPS AND BRANCHES SNAPPED OFF, SHALLOW-ROOTED TREES  
KNOCKED OVER, MOVING VEHICLES BLOWN OFF ROADS, AND BOATS PULLED  
FROM MOORINGS.  
 
ELSEWHERE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA, LITTLE TO NO IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED.  
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS  
----------------------------------  
 
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:  
NOW IS THE TIME TO CHECK YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN AND EMERGENCY SUPPLIES  
KIT AND TAKE NECESSARY ACTIONS TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY AND SECURE YOUR  
HOME OR BUSINESS.  
 
WHEN MAKING SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS DECISIONS, DO NOT FOCUS ON THE  
EXACT FORECAST TRACK SINCE HAZARDS SUCH AS FLOODING RAIN, DAMAGING  
WIND GUSTS, STORM SURGE, AND TORNADOES EXTEND WELL AWAY FROM THE  
CENTER OF THE STORM.  
 
IF IN A PLACE THAT IS VULNERABLE TO HIGH WIND, SUCH AS NEAR LARGE  
TREES, A MANUFACTURED HOME, UPPER FLOORS OF A HIGH-RISE BUILDING, OR  
ON A BOAT, PLAN TO MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER.  
 
IF YOU LIVE IN A PLACE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO FLOODING, SUCH AS  
NEAR THE OCEAN OR A LARGE INLAND LAKE, IN A LOW-LYING OR POOR  
DRAINAGE AREA, IN A VALLEY, OR NEAR AN ALREADY SWOLLEN RIVER, PLAN TO  
MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER ON HIGHER GROUND.  
 
ALWAYS HEED THE ADVICE OF LOCAL OFFICIALS AND COMPLY WITH ORDERS THAT  
ARE ISSUED. DO NOT NEEDLESSLY JEOPARDIZE YOUR LIFE OR THE LIVES OF  
OTHERS.  
 
WHEN SECURING YOUR PROPERTY, OUTSIDE PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE CONCLUDED  
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE CONDITIONS DETERIORATE. THE ONSET OF  
STRONG GUSTY WINDS OR FLOODING CAN CAUSE CERTAIN PREPAREDNESS  
ACTIVITIES TO BECOME UNSAFE.  
 
BE SURE TO LET FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS KNOW OF YOUR INTENTIONS FOR  
WEATHERING THE STORM AND YOUR WHEREABOUTS. HAVE SOMEONE LOCATED AWAY  
FROM THE THREATENED AREA SERVE AS YOUR POINT OF CONTACT. SHARE VITAL  
CONTACT INFORMATION WITH OTHERS. KEEP CELL PHONES HANDY AND CHARGED.  
 
CHECK ON THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE FULLY AWARE OF THE SITUATION OR WHO ARE  
UNABLE TO MAKE PERSONAL PREPARATIONS.  
 
IF YOU ARE A VISITOR, KNOW THE NAME OF THE COUNTY OR PARISH IN WHICH  
YOU ARE LOCATED AND WHERE IT IS RELATIVE TO CURRENT WATCHES AND  
WARNINGS. IF STAYING AT A HOTEL, ASK THE MANAGEMENT STAFF ABOUT THEIR  
ONSITE DISASTER PLAN. LISTEN FOR EVACUATION ORDERS, ESPECIALLY  
PERTAINING TO AREA VISITORS.  
 
CLOSELY MONITOR WEATHER.GOV, NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL NEWS  
OUTLETS FOR OFFICIAL STORM INFORMATION. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE CHANGES  
TO THE FORECAST.  
 
THERE IS A THREAT FROM TORNADOES WITH THIS STORM. HAVE MULTIPLE WAYS  
TO RECEIVE TORNADO WARNINGS. BE READY TO SHELTER QUICKLY.  
 
* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:  
- FOR INFORMATION ON APPROPRIATE PREPARATIONS SEE READY.GOV  
- FOR INFORMATION ON CREATING AN EMERGENCY PLAN SEE GETAGAMEPLAN.ORG  
- FOR ADDITIONAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION SEE REDCROSS.ORG  
 
NEXT UPDATE  
-----------  
 
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER  
SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM AL AROUND 930PM, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS  
WARRANT.  
 

 
 
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