821
WTUS84 KMOB 210921
HLSMOB
ALZ051>060-261>266-FLZ201>206-MSZ067-075-076-078-079-211730-
TROPICAL STORM BERTHA LOCAL STATEMENT ADVISORY NUMBER 8
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL AL022026
421 AM CDT TUE JUL 21 2026
THIS PRODUCT COVERS PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...NORTHWEST FLORIDA...SOUTH
CENTRAL ALABAMA...AND INLAND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.
**TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WILL BRING COASTAL AND OFFSHORE IMPACTS
LATER TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING**
NEW INFORMATION
---------------
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- NONE
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND STORM SURGE WATCH ARE IN EFFECT
FOR BALDWIN COASTAL AND MOBILE COASTAL
- A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR BALDWIN CENTRAL AND
MOBILE CENTRAL
- A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ESCAMBIA COASTAL,
OKALOOSA COASTAL, AND SANTA ROSA COASTAL
* STORM INFORMATION:
- ABOUT 170 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MOBILE AL OR ABOUT 130 MILES
SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF PENSACOLA FL
- 28.7N 86.4W
- STORM INTENSITY 50 MPH
- MOVEMENT NORTHWEST OR 315 DEGREES AT 5 MPH
SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------
TROPICAL STORM BERTHA HAS STRENGTHENED SLIGHTLY OVERNIGHT AND IS MOVING
VERY SLOWLY TO THE NORTHWEST. A GENERAL NORTHWEST TO WEST-NORTHWEST MOTION
IS EXPECTED TODAY INTO TONIGHT WITH THE CENTER OF BERTHA MOVING INTO THE
OFFSHORE GULF WATERS OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND ALABAMA LATER TODAY INTO
TONIGHT. THE STORM WILL MOVE FURTHER WEST AND OUT OF THE LOCAL AREA
DURING THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY. WHILE SOME SLIGHT STRENGTHENING IS
POSSIBLE OVER THE NEXT 12 HOURS, BERTHA IS LIKELY TO WEAKEN SOME ON
ITS CLOSEST APPROACH TO THE LOCAL AREA. PRIMARY IMPACTS FROM BERTHA
REMAIN FOCUSED NEAR THE COASTLINE AND OVER THE GULF WATERS.
DANGEROUS SURF AND BEACH CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. A HIGH RISK OF
DEADLY RIP CURRENTS IS IN EFFECT THROUGH MUCH OF THE WEEK. A HIGH SURF
WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT DUE TO SURF BUILDING TO 8 TO 11 FEET ALONG
THE GULF BEACHES, REACHING PEAK HEIGHTS TONIGHT INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING.
THESE LARGE BREAKING WAVES WILL RESULT IN MINOR BEACH EROSION, ALONG WITH
FLOODING OF VULNERABLE AREAS OF THE WEST END OF DAUPHIN ISLAND AND THE
FT. PICKENS AREA OF GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE.
A STORM SURGE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALABAMA COAST FOR
INUNDATION OF 2 TO 4 FEET DURING HIGH TIDE WEDNESDAY MORNING. STORM
SURGE INUNDATION OF 1 TO 2 FEET IS POSSIBLE ALONG THE COASTLINE IN
NORTHWEST FLORIDA.
DUE TO THE SHEARED NATURE OF THE STORM, MOST OF THE HEAVY RAINFALL
WILL REMAIN WELL SOUTH ACROSS THE OPEN GULF. HOWEVER, LOCALLY HEAVY
RAINFALL CANNOT BE RULED OUT IN ANY RAINBANDS THAT APPROACH THE COAST.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------
* OTHER COASTAL HAZARDS:
DANGEROUS SURF AND BEACH CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. A HIGH RISK OF DEADLY
RIP CURRENTS CONTINUES THROUGH MUCH OF THE WEEK. SURF BUILDS TO 8-11 FEET
TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY.
* SURGE:
PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING SURGE HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT
IMPACTS ACROSS COASTAL ALABAMA. POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE:
- AREAS OF INUNDATION WITH STORM SURGE FLOODING ACCENTUATED BY
WAVES. DAMAGE TO SEVERAL BUILDINGS, MAINLY NEAR THE COAST.
- SECTIONS OF NEAR-SHORE ESCAPE ROUTES AND SECONDARY ROADS BECOME
WEAKENED OR WASHED OUT, ESPECIALLY IN USUALLY VULNERABLE LOW
SPOTS.
- MAJOR BEACH EROSION WITH HEAVY SURF BREACHING DUNES. STRONG AND
NUMEROUS RIP CURRENTS.
- MODERATE DAMAGE TO MARINAS, DOCKS, BOARDWALKS, AND PIERS.
SEVERAL SMALL CRAFT BROKEN AWAY FROM MOORINGS, ESPECIALLY IN
UNPROTECTED ANCHORAGES.
ELSEWHERE ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...NORTHWEST
FLORIDA...SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...AND INLAND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.,
LITTLE TO NO IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED.
* WIND:
PROTECT AGAINST HAZARDOUS WIND HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS THE
IMMEDIATE COASTAL AREAS OF ALABAMA AND THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE:
- DAMAGE TO PORCHES, AWNINGS, CARPORTS, SHEDS, AND UNANCHORED
MOBILE HOMES. UNSECURED LIGHTWEIGHT OBJECTS BLOWN ABOUT.
- MANY LARGE TREE LIMBS BROKEN OFF. A FEW TREES SNAPPED OR
UPROOTED, BUT WITH GREATER NUMBERS IN PLACES WHERE TREES ARE
SHALLOW ROOTED. SOME FENCES AND ROADWAY SIGNS BLOWN OVER.
- A FEW ROADS IMPASSABLE FROM DEBRIS, PARTICULARLY WITHIN URBAN
OR HEAVILY WOODED PLACES. HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS ON
BRIDGES AND OTHER ELEVATED ROADWAYS.
- SCATTERED POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGES.
ELSEWHERE ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...NORTHWEST
FLORIDA...SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...AND INLAND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.,
LITTLE TO NO IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED.
* FLOODING RAIN:
PROTECT AGAINST LOCALLY HAZARDOUS RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE
LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS COASTAL ALABAMA AND THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:
- LOCALIZED RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT A FEW EVACUATIONS.
- RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY QUICKLY RISE WITH SWIFTER CURRENTS.
SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, CANALS, AND DITCHES MAY BECOME SWOLLEN
AND OVERFLOW IN SPOTS.
- FLOOD WATERS CAN ENTER A FEW STRUCTURES, ESPECIALLY IN USUALLY
VULNERABLE SPOTS. A FEW PLACES WHERE RAPID PONDING OF WATER
OCCURS AT UNDERPASSES, LOW-LYING SPOTS, AND POOR DRAINAGE
AREAS. SEVERAL STORM DRAINS AND RETENTION PONDS BECOME
NEAR-FULL AND BEGIN TO OVERFLOW. SOME BRIEF ROAD AND BRIDGE
CLOSURES.
ELSEWHERE ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...NORTHWEST
FLORIDA...SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...AND INLAND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.,
LITTLE TO NO IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------
* EVACUATIONS:
FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF LOCAL OFFICIALS.
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
NOW IS THE TIME TO COMPLETE PREPARATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR
EMERGENCY PLAN.
IF YOU ARE A VISITOR, BE SURE TO KNOW THE NAME OF THE CITY OR TOWN IN
WHICH YOU ARE STAYING AND THE NAME OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH IT RESIDES.
LISTEN FOR THESE LOCATIONS IN LOCAL NEWS UPDATES. PAY ATTENTION FOR
INSTRUCTIONS FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
CLOSELY MONITOR WEATHER.GOV, NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS
FOR OFFICIAL STORM INFORMATION. BE READY TO ADAPT TO POSSIBLE CHANGES
TO THE FORECAST. ENSURE YOU HAVE MULTIPLE WAYS TO RECEIVE WEATHER
WARNINGS.
* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- FOR THE LATEST DETAILED EVACUATION AND SHELTER INFORMATION...PLEASE
REFER TO YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AT THE PHONE NUMBER
OR WEBSITE LISTED BELOW.
- COASTAL ALABAMA:
- BALDWIN COUNTY: 251-972-6807 OR
WWW.BALDWINCOUNTYAL.GOV/DEPARTMENTS/EMA
- MOBILE COUNTY: 251-460-8000 OR MOBILECOUNTYEMA.GOV
- NORTHWEST FLORIDA:
- ESCAMBIA COUNTY: 850-471-6400 OR MYESCAMBIA.COM/BEREADY
- SANTA ROSA COUNTY: 850-983-5360 WWW.SANTAROSA.FL.GOV/EMERGENCY
- OKALOOSA COUNTY: 850-651-7150 OR MYOKALOOSA.COM/EMERGENCY-MANAGEMENT
- FOR INFORMATION ON APPROPRIATE PREPARATIONS SEE READY.GOV
- FOR ADDITIONAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION SEE REDCROSS.ORG
NEXT UPDATE
-----------
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN MOBILE AL AROUND 10 AM CDT, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS
WARRANT.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
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