DOTHAN, Ala. (WDNews) — The risk of tornadoes will increase late Friday into Saturday across the Wiregrass as Hurricane Isaias approaches the Gulf Coast.
According to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, several tornadoes are possible across southeast Alabama in the storm’s outer and trailing rainbands. The threat will begin along the Florida Panhandle Friday afternoon, then spread north and east overnight into Saturday.
The National Hurricane Center’s 10 a.m. CDT update No. 12 says tornado potential will increase Friday afternoon and continue through the night. The greatest risk will be east of the hurricane’s center, particularly across the Florida Panhandle into southern Georgia.
Nighttime tornadoes are especially dangerous. The National Weather Service urges residents to have multiple ways to receive warnings, including alerts that will wake them while sleeping.
At 10 a.m., Isaias was a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 120 mph, about 195 miles south of Pensacola. It was moving north-northeast at 16 mph and is expected to make landfall along the western Florida Panhandle Friday evening at or near major hurricane strength.
Houston, Dale, Coffee, Geneva and Henry counties remain under a tropical storm warning, with a flood watch beginning at 1 p.m. Friday and continuing through Saturday evening. Heavy rain, damaging winds and power outages are also possible.
