Claudette finally moved ashore at Fort Walton Beach in NW Florida. Doppler radar at 2:25 am shows that the center of circulation is not as well defined as earlier.
Quiet around Alabama at this early hour. Showers limited to the Extreme SE. However, they are spreading inland rapidly.
The center of Claudette will move NW today, into Extreme South Alabama early thisd morning. By nightfall the center is projected to be along the Alabama-Mississippi border about half way up the state.
Across South and Central Alabama winds will be increasing and loclized flooding possible before daybreak. Scattered thunderstorms will develop over much of Alabama today with gusts to 40 mph or more. This is especially true for areas east of the center. Outside chance of a small spinoff tornado. These are usually short-lived and most are the weaker EF0 or EF1.
BIRMINGHAM METRO AREA
Showers and thunderstorms will become numerous as the day goes on with locally heavy rain. Might see some Flash Flood Warnings.
SPOT REPORTS AT 2 AM CDT
….Gulf Shores, clear, wind calm
….Andalusia/Opp, wind SE 16, gusts 29
….Florala, light rain, wind SE 17, gusts 29
….Crestview, Fla., steady rain, wind SE 14, gusts 29
….Destin, cloudy, wind south 13, gust 24
….Duke Field, thunderstorm, wind south 18, gusts 35
….12 miles south of Orange Beach, wind calm, four-foot waves.
NOTES FROM OUR READERS
* Stephan Frank: “We are in Fort Walton. Currently in the center of the storm. The “eye-wall” passed about 30 minutes ago with really gusty winds and horizontal rain. We are still waiting for the back side of the storm to pass.” (Time of his note was 12:38 am
* Mark from Gulf Shores at 12:07 am: The tide is high and the waves are very high.”
