Hurricane Sally Nears Gulf Coast, to Bring Heavy Rains

Category 2 Hurricane Sally threatens the Gulf Coast with heavy rains, howling winds, and dangerous storm surge from Louisiana to Florida.

Hurricane Sally comes after Hurricane Laura brought destruction that left over a third of Louisiana a disaster zone.

As per The National Hurricane Center, the upcoming hurricane might bring life-threatening storm surge and strong winds.

The Hurricane Center said hurricane warnings are raised from Morgan City, Louisiana, to Navarre, Florida, including New Orleans.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Sally is seen to make landfall in southern Mississippi or southern Alabama on Tuesday.

The Hurricane Center said it was too early to determine the move on Sally's center

Hurricane Sally could bring eight to 16 inches of rain and up to two feet to some areas.

Forecasters also said that life-threatening flash flooding is possible.

"In addition, this rainfall will likely lead to widespread minor to isolated major flooding on area rivers," forecasters at the Hurricane Center was quoted in a report.

Sally is the seventh hurricane of this year's Atlantic hurricane season.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said he warned people to prepare for the storm immediately.

Louisiana is already sheltering around 13,000 Hurricane Laura evacuees, mostly in New Orleans hotels.

Edwards said that New Orleans is better prepared for a hurricane that she's ever been before.

He added that he is concerned but not paralyzed by it.

After Hurricane Sally makes landfall, it is expected to move slowly over Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida's Panhandle on Tuesday until Wednesday.

South Florida took the early effects of Sally's power over the weekend.

Nine to 12 inches of rain fell Saturday morning to Sunday morning, which pushed a flood advisory in the Keys.

Key West reported a little over nine inches at midnight, which is its fifth-highest daily total.

In the Panhandle, weather expert Jack Cullen said that the rain will be the main threat, along with the beaches, which will see lots of large, surface-breaking waves and a high risk of rip currents.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Panhandle.

Voluntary evacuations were issued for parts of Escambia County, which includes Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach.

The Pensacola Bay Center was being opened to shelter evacuees.

Santa Rosa and Escambia County schools closed on Monday as preparation for Hurricane Sally.

The University of West Florida announced all of its in-person classes are either going fully remote or canceled from Monday noon through Tuesday.

Weeks ago, Hurricane Laura left six people dead in Louisiana. Laura was categorized as a Category 4.

The state of Texas was also affected by Hurricane Laura, with Orange County being the worst hit.

"You saw more rooftops ripped off. You saw more shingles missing. You saw more trees down. You saw big pieces of steel framing wrapped around some trees. You saw some roads that were still inundated, underwater, impassable at this particular time," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was quoted in a report.

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