'Huge rainmaker': Hurricane Sally threatens historic floods

Heavy rain, pounding surf and flash floods hit parts of the Florida Panhandle and the Alabama coast as Hurricane Sally lumbered toward land at a painfully slow pace, threatening as much as 30 inches of rain and dangerous, historic flooding.

The storm's centre churned offshore 75 miles (125 kilometres) south of Mobile, Alabama, as Sally was creeping toward an expected late Tuesday or early Wednesday landfall at only 2 mph (3 kph), according to the National Hurricane Centre.

Hurricane-force winds extended 40 miles (65 kilometers) from the centre and tropical storm force winds reached the coast Tuesday night. Up to 4 inches (10 centimetres) of rain had already fallen on parts of the coast, according to the national weather service. And Sally's lumbering pace meant more deluges.

“A hurricane moving at 2 mph is stalled for all intents and purposes,” said Brian McNoldy, a hurricane researcher at the University of Miami. “If they aren't moving along and they just kind of sit there, you're going to get a ridiculous amount of rain.” Packing sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph), Sally remained dangerous even though its winds dropped considerably from a fierce peak of 100 mph (161 kph) on Monday. The National Hurricane Centre expected Sally to remain a Category 1 hurricane when it comes ashore, adding “historic life-threatening flash flooding is likely."

By Tuesday evening, hurricane warnings stretched from east of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, to Navarre, Florida. Rainfall of up to 20 inches (50 centimetres) was forecast near the coast. There also was a threat the storm could spawn tornadoes and dump isolated rain accumulations of 30 inches (76 centimetres) in spots from the Florida Panhandle to southeast Mississippi.

Heavy rain and surf pounded the barrier island of Navarre Beach, Florida, on Tuesday and road signs wobbled in the wind. Rebecca Studstill, who lives inland, was wary of getting stuck on the island, saying police close bridges once the wind and water get too high. “Just hunkering down would probably be the best thing for folks out here,” she said.

Two large casino boats broke loose Tuesday from a dock where they were undergoing construction work in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. MJ Bosarge, who lives near the shipyard, said at least one of the riverboats had done considerable damage to the dock.

“You really want to get them secured because with wind and rain like this, the water is constantly rising,” Bosarge said.

In Orange Beach, Alabama, towering waves crashed onshore as Crystal Smith and her young daughter, Taylor, watched. They drove more than an hour to take in the sight.

“It's beautiful, I love it," Crystal Smith said amid whipping wind. "But they are high. Hardly any of the beach isn't covered.”

Capt. Michael Thomas, an Orange Beach fishing guide, secured boats and made other last-minute preparations. He estimated up to 5 inches (13 centimetres) of rain had fallen in as many hours.

“I'm as prepared as I can be,” Thomas said.

Stacy Stewart, a hurricane centre senior specialist, warned that floods could be deadly.

“This is going to be historic flooding along with the historic rainfall,” Stewart said.

“If people live near rivers, small streams and creeks, they need to evacuate and go somewhere else.” Forecasters warned that Sally could unleash flooding similar to what Hurricane Harvey inflicted in 2017 in swamping the Houston metropolitan area.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves urged people in the southern part of the state to prepare for the potential for flash flooding. He said about 120 people were in shelters in Mississippi.