We had a few bands of Heavy Thundershowers yesterday, but it looks like the constant rain is about to begin. Dennis became a Cat 4 overnight and is packing winds of 145 mph with gust to 175! Looks like it may make landfall somewhere between Pensacola and Gulf Shores if I were making the call. Tropical force winds can be felt out 180 miles in front of the storm, so the afternoon should be the beginnings of the bad stuff for us. Here are some quick links: Accuweather Summary | Position | Local Radar|
Fort Rucker Alabama Radar | Pensacola News Journal WSFA is saying that winds in our area could gust up to 80 MPH!
If you’re not familiar of the lay of the land, here’s a map. That’s Opelika under the start pin from this Expedia Map. Just west of Columbus, GA. We’re about 225 miles from the Pensacola area.
One other note: Interstate 65 (that’s the road from Montgomery to Mobile) was all northbound traffic yesterday as folks were still leaving the Alabama Coastal areas.
Auburn University & Auburn City Summer School have already announced they are closed on Monday.
Final Preperations are underway for the Hurricane Fellowship this afternoon on the porch.
At Noon The Weather Channel said: As Dennis piles inland through southwestern Alabama this evening, hurricane-force winds could penetrate inland as far as 150 or 175 miles. Accuweather shows nearly 4 inches of rain in the last 24 hours in Opelika. Associated Press reports Gulf Shores Law Enforcement isn’t riding this one out.
From the Archives — originally published on the Opelika Daily News on July 10, 2005. View the original page.
