Approaching Storm Could Be Worse Than Ida; Hard Freeze Coming Too

December 1, 2009

Forecasters say a strong low pressure developing over the Gulf could be worse than Tropical Storm Ida when it moves inland late tonight into Wednesday morning.

The storm is expected to have sustained gale force winds over 45 mph  as it makes landfall. That will push tides well above normal, leading to coastal flooding. The storm will also bring offshore seas as high as 18 feet.

Inland, the storm is expected to drop as much as eight inches of rain in the Florida Panhandle. Localized flooding is expected, and a flash flood watch has been issued from Tuesday night through Wednesday morning.

By mid morning Wednesday, an approaching cold front will send a squall line of likely severe thunderstorms across the area. And by the end of the week, we are forecast to have our first hard freeze of the season with temperatures in the 30’s.

Here is your official North Escambia weather forecast:

  • Today: Rain likely, mainly after 3pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 59. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
  • Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 53. Breezy, with a east wind 10 to 20 mph becoming south. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
  • Wednesday: Periods of rain and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then a chance of rain. High near 66. Breezy, with a south wind around 20 mph becoming west. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
  • Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
  • Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. North wind between 5 and 15 mph.
  • Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. North wind around 5 mph.
  • Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 56. North wind around 5 mph.
  • Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
  • Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 52. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
  • Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.
  • Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57.
  • Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.
  • Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.

Comments

6 Responses to “Approaching Storm Could Be Worse Than Ida; Hard Freeze Coming Too”

  1. T on December 1st, 2009 10:06 pm

    So, since we didn’t go to school for two days due to Ida… small as it was…. we can expect the buses to run tomorrow?

  2. Brenda on December 1st, 2009 9:45 pm

    “Approaching Storm Could Be Worse Than Ida”–It won’t take much to be worse than Ida–thank goodness! We got lucky again this year.

  3. Capt.D on December 1st, 2009 5:09 pm

    Hang in there Chris I’ll come get ya when it calms down. Guess I better call my wife to pick all the satsumas off my trees she can!

  4. bleh on December 1st, 2009 3:12 pm

    I hope it snows

  5. David Huie Green on December 1st, 2009 1:40 pm

    REGARDING:
    “And by the end of the week, we are forecast to have our first hard freeze of the season with temperatures in the 30’s.”

    That’s my kind of HARD freeze

    David thinking my kumquats may survive

  6. Chris Maloney on December 1st, 2009 11:43 am

    YES, I’m sitting out in the Gulf of Mexico on a oil/gas production platform. We’re approximately 20-30 miles off the coast or about 60 miles south of Houma, La. We’ve been having 30-40mph winds with 5-8ft seas. We’re expecting to have 40-50mph winds through noon tomorrow with 10-15ft waves. The helicopters don’t fly in anything over 30mph winds and all crane operations hault at 35mph.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive