Tropical Storm Gordon Takes Aim at Alabama and Mississippi; South Florida Soaked

September 3, 2018

Tropical storm Gordon is expected to bring heavy rain and high winds to the northern Gulf Coast by Tuesday.

Via weather.com:

Here is the latest projected storm track for Tropical Storm Gordon. NOAA

• Tropical Storm Gordon is now moving into the Gulf of Mexico.
• Soaking rainfall and gusty winds from Gordon are currently spreading across southern Florida.
• Tropical storm warnings are posted for South Florida and the northern Gulf Coast.
• A hurricane watch is now in effect for the Alabama and Mississippi coasts.
• Heavy rain, storm-surge flooding and strong winds are possible impacts from Gordon on the Gulf Coast.
• Storm surge warnings and watches are also in effect for a part of the northern Gulf Coast.

A hurricane watch means hurricane-force winds (74-plus mph) are possible in the area indicated beginning late Tuesday or Tuesday night.

Tropical storm warnings are posted for South Florida, from Golden Beach on the southeastern coast to Bonita Beach on the southwestern coast, as well as for the Keys, from Craig Key to Ocean Reef.

Tropical storm warnings are also posted from the Okaloosa-Walton County border in Florida westward to east of Morgan City, Louisiana, including Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas.

A tropical storm warning is typically issued when tropical-storm-force winds (39-plus mph) are expected in 36 hours or less.

Residents along the northern Gulf Coast should continue to make preparations for Gordon through Tuesday morning.

Current Status and Forecast

Gordon is currently centered 50 miles south-southeast of Marco Island, Florida, and is producing numerous showers and thunderstorms in southern Florida.

Localized flooding is possible, and the National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for South Florida into Monday night.

In addition, tropical-storm-force winds (39 mph or greater) are possible in the tropical storm warning area in southern Florida on Monday. A wind gust to 51 mph was reported at Miami's Opa Locka Executive Airport on Monday morning.

An isolated tornado threat cannot be ruled out in southern Florida, as well.

Conditions should begin to improve Monday night in South Florida.

Steered by high pressure aloft parked over the eastern United States, Gordon will move through the eastern Gulf of Mexico Monday night through Tuesday.

Gordon is forecast to be a strong tropical storm near the time it makes landfall on the northern Gulf Coast Tuesday night, most likely in southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi or southern Alabama. There is some chance Gordon could attain Category 1 hurricane strength just before landfall, and that's why the NHC issued a hurricane watch for parts of the Mississippi and Alabama coasts.

 Miami is soaked by Tropical Storm Gordon. NOAA

Northern Gulf Coast Impacts

Here's a look at the current forecast impacts for Gordon, but keep in mind, changes are possible based on future adjustments to track and intensity.

Rainfall

Parts of the northern Gulf Coast could see 4 to 6 inches rainfall Tuesday through Wednesday, from southeastern Louisiana into far southern Mississippi and far southern Alabama. Localized totals of 8 inches or more are possible in some areas by early Thursday.

As a result, there could be flooding in this region, including the New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, metro areas. A flash flood watch has been posted by the National Weather Service for parts of southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi and coastal Alabama.

Separate flash flood watches are in effect in southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana due to heavy rain from another weather system affecting that region on Monday.

Storm Surge, Rip Currents and High Surf

A storm surge warning has been issued from Shell Beach, Louisiana, to Mississippi-Alabama border. This means within 36 hours, parts of this coastline could see a dangerous, life-threatening storm-surge inundation.

There is a storm surge watch posted from west of Shell Beach, Louisiana, to the mouth of the Mississippi River and from the border between Mississippi and Alabama to Navarre, Florida.

The NHC said water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide:

• Shell Beach, Louisiana, to the Mississippi-Alabama border: 3 to 5 feet
• Navarre, Florida, to the Mississippi-Alabama border: 2 to 4 feet
• Shell Beach, Louisiana, to the mouth of Mississippi River: 2 to 4 feet
• Mouth of the Mississippi River to the Louisiana-Texas border: 1 to 2 feet

High tide this week on the Louisiana and Mississippi coastline is in the early-morning hours. Tuesday morning through Thursday evening is the timing for potential coastal flooding in the storm surge watch area, according to the National Weather Service. 

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the east of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large waves, according to the NHC.

An onshore wind flow will continue a risk of dangerous rip currents on the northern Gulf Coast into midweek, and swimmers are encouraged to stay out of the water.

Seas are expected to build to 6 to 10 feet by Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Mobile, Alabama.

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