WBRC First Alert Weather team hosting Q&A on Hurricane Francine

e e e e e e e e e e side wbrc 6 News starts with First Alert weather and want to welcome you into this very special coverage of hurricane Francine we are looking live right now at New Orleans in that area bracing for impacts from the hurricane as it approaches from the south this is a look from you are looking at one of the traffic cams there in the area of course right there along I 10 as that system moves to the north what we're going to be dealing with is some of those stronger winds making their way in across parts of Alabama meteorologist Matt Daniel joining us now and Matt we want to invite folks if they haven't subscribed to subscribe to our YouTube channel because this is one of those great sources for where we provide updates like this yeah that's right so we got our YouTube page if we got all all this exclusive content that you can access it's all free just subscribe and this is a good event for us and for you because we're going to be answering your questions in real time I know we've had a lot of questions I've had personal PE uh messages on my Facebook asking me is it going to be a tornado here or there we're going to try our best to answer it in the most simplified way we can and give you that latest information yeah that's right and we have plenty of time right here on YouTube so just sit back we'll go through all this we'll talk about uh the impacts not only here but also along the G coast and as of right now the center of the system is about 50 Mi offshore so it's about to make landfall this afternoon into the evening and I just want to stress here something I've been talking about the past couple days this is not a a hurricane Frederick level system that's going to move through here but we will certainly feel those impacts around the state of Alabama over the next couple days we're going to have some Gusty winds a lot of rain and there's also that threat for isolated tornadoes that we're going to talk about so let me update you right now on the latest advisory for Hurricane friend scene maximum sustained winds at 90 mph there was an oil platform off the coast just north of the center that reported an 85 mph sustained wind earlier and a wind gust up to 100 milph so we are seeing those wind gust around 100 the track brings this Inland and really the heaviest of the rain with this one really work into our part of the state until after midnight tonight through the early morning hours tomorrow then as the system tracks North throughout the day tomorrow it's going to be a wind day we could have some gust 20 30 mph maybe even some higher gust and then as we work our way into the afternoon that's when that threat for isolated tornadoes starts to increase across the state and we'll have to watch out for that later in the day tomorrow but there speaking of tornadoes a tornado watch right now in effect for South Louisiana I've been monitoring the feeds here from the National Weather Service out of New Orleans and I noticed a few moments ago there was a a tornado warning it didn't last long but it was for plaman perish so we are starting to see those brief spin-ups as we call them I say spin up but they're tornadoes they're very dangerous and sometimes they can develop very briefly with little warning so that's why next couple days it's been a while since we've had a risk for storms or or cells capable of producing tornadoes so it's very important over the next couple of days that you have multiple ways to get those alerts in case we do have some warnings that develop here across our area but at the moment it's a tornado watch looks like that warning has expired but as we go over to radar you can see the center of the hurricane now approaching the coast of Louisiana uh it's going to be approaching right around the H area you can see it it's it's U all this is Marsh here to the South Grand Isles back in here leeville Louisiana back in this direction in fact Matt has a couple cameras we'll go to here in a few moments to show you some of these areas but also south Mississippi I had someone was asking me about slide L already seeing some of that heavier rain they lifting North slide down back in towards pyun gulport Mississippi you can see a lot of rain impact in those areas as well and right around New Orleans Lake pona train just covered up right now with all the heavy rainfall but it did Trend a little bit to the East and that's going to take the core of the tropical system right across places like Baton Rouge so Baton Rouge yesterday was actually included in the hurricane warning as it moves North here we're talking not a major hurricane but certainly could have some of those hurricane Forest wind gusts 74 plus milph as this moves Inland so you've got the threat of the hurricane Forest Winds of course all this rain there's going to be flooding issues you got a lot of low land in here so that's going to be a problem as well and now the winds are starting to pick up here's a look at the current wind speeds there along the coast and approaching 60 MPH so we certainly have the tropical storm Forest winds already impacting south Louisiana as this approaches and for folks here certainly need to be prepared for the possibility some power outages with those kind of winds starting to uh pick up at this time but you'll have a window in here next few hours next four or five hours we're going to see those winds steadily increase and likely seeing hurricane Forest wind gust that will be uh tracking to the North Peak storm surge as you can see down in the south Louisiana right here up to 6 foot storm surge possible but actually over six foot storm surge some of these locations here I want to point out in along the Alabama Gulf Coast you can see in this area 3 to 6 foot storm surge in those areas a lot of you have asked me about Dolph and Island and some of these areas so there will be a bit of a surge as this moves North there you can see a lot of that water is going to be pushed back in towards Mobile Bay at the moment of course the ocean quite Rocky here at this time Gulf Shor 75 degrees but we don't have white out conditions anything like that along the Alabama GF Coast in fact the winds only at 11 milph so really those Gusty winds haven't quite reached the Alabama Gulf Coast it's going to take a little while even for those wind speeds to reach the Alabama Gulf Coast but right now we're dry we have a lot of clouds you can tell that there's a a tropical system Brewing out there if you stepped out outside today here in our area across Central Alabama mostly cloudy we do have a few showers showing up to the South but really the heavier rain doesn't quite work into our area until the evening tonight you'll notice as we go into uh uh 10 a.m. tomorrow morning that's when we really start to see that steadier rain back in across west southwest parts of the area and just as this enters our Southwest part of the coverage area could have some 40 plus mph wind gust in here so places like chock County Washington County if you're watching me around places like Sardis Butler Alabama Livingston and Point South certainly want to make those preparations in case there are some random power outages early tomorrow morning those kind of wind speeds as this system lifts to the North and then there's a look at 10:00 in the morning and then what happens later in the day uh what happens as these tropical systems move Inland they start to take on kind of like a comma look to them you'll see it has this little tail where we have little little what we call Tropical downpours that rotate in towards the center of circulation and these are the areas we have to pay close attention to if we do see an isolated tornado not a guarantee again this is not a major tornado outbreak kind of setup but you can get these tornado that briefly these cells that start to rotate in many cases I've seen a lot of tornado warnings you won't even see a a a lightning strike with these but they're basically like tropical downpours that start to rotate and there's a lot of wind shear in the environment so we'll have to watch the afternoon as we heat up up especially I think along and east of Interstate 65 the models have really locked in on East Alabama tomorrow as far as a threat for isolated tornadoes we'll have to watch the afternoon and then what's interesting is as the Center passes to the north we still have this area here we're going to need to watch also on Friday that's why we have included First Alert weather day on Friday for that possibility as there could also be a few isolated warnings there on Friday as well so we're going to be dealing with this not only tomorrow but we're going to have to pay close attention into the radar as we go into the day on Friday again as this system moves to the north forecast wind gust you can see they topping 2030 milph there's a look at 2:00 in the morning on uh tomorrow and then you can see South and West I was talking about some of those areas even showing Tuscaloosa there it's going to be a windy day tomorrow throughout the day those winds 30 40 milph as the system moves North but we're not expecting hurricane force wind gust as the system tracks to the north throughout tomorrow and again a look at the tornado threat we'll we'll show you some of these maps and you can see really tonight as far as tonight goes we really don't see that threat until tomorrow morning starting to ramp up to the South and then that threat starts to lift in uh to the north so that's the latest on this and we're going to go through some of these models as we uh continue to track this again we're going to be watching tomorrow afternoon want to go to meteorologist Matt Daniel now and Matt I know you've been keeping a close eye on this system as it approaches the Gulf Coast you had some of those camera views a few moments ago certainly looks like the condition going downhill on the GF Coast quickly yeah that's right Wes we're looking at those conditions definitely going downhill as the storm's about 50 to 60 miles away of approaching landfall with 90 M hour winds been monitoring the chat though uh through our YouTube live stream and if you're watching us welcome and don't forget to subscribe feel free to like and comment up below so we can answer your questions so let's go ahead and get right to it uh amber actually sent me sent a message in saying I got put under a wind advisory well the National Weather Service actually issued a wind advisory about 30 minutes ago and that includes most of central Alabama and we get these wind advisories occasionally throughout the year but we're looking at those pressure gradient winds the sustained winds coming in from the East at 15 to 25 milph throughout all of tomorrow so this advisories through all of Thursday starting at midnight to midnight and we're looking at those winds gusting as high as 40 miles per hour and you have to remember we've had a wet July a very dry August and now we're getting a lot of rain along with wind so that's going to put a lot of stress on those trees it may not take a lot of wind maybe 40 mph winds to knock a couple of trees down and of course that could result in power outages so we just want to make sure you stay safe and prepared uh we'll show you uh some of those uh ideas when it comes to preparing for those winds with Gusty winds secure those loose items now's the time to do that this afternoon and evening the rain is going to start to move in on the light side as we go towards Sunset and it's really going to pick up an intensity as we go into tomorrow morning so you got furniture trash cans make there make sure they're secure as well clear out those storm drains and the gutters as well because we're going to get some rain and some spots are going to get more than others and when you get these outer rain bands and they train over the same spots some areas could see 4 in plus While others maybe just a half of an inch to 1 inch so we're going to see a variety of rainfall totals all across Central Alabama and once again when it comes to active weather on this first alert weather day we want you to make sure you're prepared so make sure you download that W BRC First Alert weather app and have multiple ways to receive those warnings and definitely recommend a weather radio especially overnight I don't think that tornado threat is going to ramp up overnight while we're in bed but we still want to be cautious so we might want to have it turned on just in case it's really going to ramp up as Wes was talking about tomorrow late in the morning and into the afternoon hours and speaking of the YouTube chat we've got some questions regarding that tornado potential let me go in and uh Jordan has been patient he uh posted earlier uh how big of a chance Hamilton Alabama have of getting a tornado and how worried should I be well let's go ahead and show you that tornado threat if you can so as we zoom on in and feel free if you got the camera zoom on in to me and just this monitor I want to make sure everybody can see everything that's in this map I know it's a little bit far away so if we can just zoom that camera in that would be fantastic so here's the Outlook From The Storm Prediction Center we are looking at that marginal risk in green that's a one out of five threat so that's the lowend threat so I if you're in Hamilton you are in that marginal concern for tomorrow but based off what I've been seeing on the latest trends with those models I think that tornado threat May amp up a little bit just to your south and east if you're in Maran County so we're looking at that area in yellow that's a slight risk that's a two out of five on the scale and that's where we could see those brief spin up tornadoes when it comes to Tropical landfall uh systems making landfall there's a lot of friction there's a lot of spin in the atmosphere and these storms or these uh tornadoes that develop are usually very quick and fat and they are usually weak and it's very hard to detect sometimes they'll spin up in a few minutes and then they can dissipate so they're shortlived in most cases but we're going to have to watch that because as the storm lifts up to the north and we start to heat up tomorrow afternoon we may have enough instability enough spin to create some of those outer rain bands that could produce a tornado threat so we're really going to be focusing on areas right along I65 and as we go into tomorrow evening that tornado threat may actually shift to the east now I'm not expecting a widespread tornado outbreak by any means but we definitely have to watch this because these tornadoes could produce winds up to 80 maybe 100 miles an hour and of course that can result in a and some damage so we'll just have to watch this it's hit or Mi mix and we're just going to have to watch it very closely got another question I'm more tornado related questions because I know everyone's concerned about the severe aspect when it comes to severe weather um uh Kaye said very windy in well uh in uh pelum so yeah we're starting to see those winds gusting spots let me move my laptop so you can see in this particular view um so we've got uh what about the severe threat for East Central Alabama so let's go ahead and break down the uh ingredients so I made this uh graphic out here so you can sort of see it when it comes to those impacts we're going to break it down from West the Central and the East so for West Alabama we're looking at the rain starting to pick up as we go into the overnight hours and I think when it comes to those actual wind gusts you're going to be a little bit closer to the center of France scene which means the potential to see stronger wind gusts is a possibility so in this area I think we could easily see the several inches of rainfall I think that's where we're going to see the heaviest amount of rain initially tomorrow morning and we're looking at those Gusty winds 30 to 40 but it would not surprise me if we see some isolated gust up to 50 mph so that could actually not knock a couple of trees down and create some power outages so just make sure you keep your electronic devices charged for tomorrow just in case you lose power you can tune in watch us stream us and get that latest information but the tornado threat and the could actually enhance farther to the east so right along I65 from Coleman into Blunt County St Clair Jefferson uh Shelby bib into Chilton County uh yellow is indicating that slight risk or two out of five when it comes to severe weather I think we could see 2 to 4 in and the reason why I think we could see higher totals if we see these bands just train over the same spot rainfall rates could be easily 2 to 3 Ines per hour and that could cause some uh isolated flooding concern so we'll have to watch out for that but with a little bit of heating in the day there could be a couple of warnings that we're going to be tracking and then in East Alabama that threat is mainly going to be an isolated tornado concern as we go into the late afternoon and evening hours when those outer rain bands start to impact East Alabama that's the area we'll have to watch so your time frame especially from from Cherokee down towards Talladega and ausa talapa counties we're thinking probably late afternoon into the evening hour so best way have multiple ways to receive warnings don't be scared be prepared we'll be here on your side keeping you up to date on any issues that develop all across the area the good news is of course with Francine we've been in a drought we need the rain and I think the rain we definitely see a good bit of that over the next couple of days uh Wes I know you've been monitoring the chat and the condition that are out there what's going on right now yeah Matt uh I noticed on here someone was asking you know why the Northeast part of a tropical system do we often see the tornado threat well the northeastern quadrant of a tropical system you've got the most Ascent you have the most lift you also have quite a bit of wind shear you know it's where we look at that directional wind shear associated with these when you look at a tropical system you'll see the clouds they're moving in different directions you have what's called Central D overcast a loft you have clouds that are moving more in a clockwise fashion and then the low levels you have a warm core low where those clouds are moving or the circulation is moving in more in a uh uh counterclockwise fashion so what what you uh what you end up with is a uh quite a unique system here and as they intensify and you don't have quite as much environmental wind shear or dry air and trining into these they they just it's like a top that starts spinning and that circulation tightens pressures lower and that eye becomes exposed and that's why we can now see it from radar and you know when you are tracking these thank thankfully we have satellite right so we can see these way out when they're well out far from the coast because we don't have Radars all over the ocean so uh that's why we can now see this as it approaches the coast of Louisiana a lot of rain with this but that North Eastern side again we're talking about the threat of tornadoes they have actually issued a tornado watch now that does include south Louisiana down in the south Mississippi there's Gulfport Slidel there were a couple of warnings and I was monitoring uh look like the national weather service here in New Orleans they were actually monitoring some rotation uh that was a couple of scans around uh the Harvey area uh moving towards the Harvey area so that's uh down in south Louisiana again what we're talking about here it's going to be a little while before this enters into Alabama and you know we've had opal moved through you remember that one Hurricane Andrew what was left of that in the 92 actually moved across our area and then we had never will forget ivvan that moved through the states we've had some of these systems that have moved into South Alabama and brought all the heavier rainfall and the even tropical to Hurricane force wind gust across our area not expecting that level of a system I just want to stress and this is not going to be a system as for us it's going to produce a foot of rain across Alabama however what what's going to happen here thankfully you know we need the rain right so we've been in a drought and a lot of this is going to be soaked up as the rain starts moving in overnight tonight into the day tomorrow but as a system tracks to the north and starts to you know bring more and more rainfall by late tomorrow and we get some areas where some of the heaviest rain starts kind of training across those same locations we could end up with a few trouble spots so that's why we're mentioning localized flood threat with this as it moves to the north Matt do you have any other questions I'm trying to pull the chat up here but I'm yeah I've got some questions in that if you want to go to me we're talking about I had one question asking about the Alabama gulf coast and I think that's a valid question you may have friends friends or relatives there uh that are wondering what's happening we've got our live camera here at Gulf Shores we got a red flag out there don't need to be out on the beach we got a rough rip current threat 75 Dees it's not too bad at the moment uh but we're looking at those conditions going downhill in fact uh for Baldwin mobile counties we're under that tropical storm warning so we're looking at winds that could easily be right around 40 to maybe 60 miles per hour and remember we're on the northeast side of that storm and that's where you're going to get the most of the Wind rain from so that's why they're concerned about uh all that tropical storm conditions the peak storm surge in yellow for the Alabama gulf coast up to 6 feet so I'm thinking somewhere between 3 to six then as you go towards Pensacola we're looking at up to 3 feet and same as you go along the Mississippi Coast as well so I want to show you the rip current threat put this together it's going to be a high rip current threat for tomorrow going into Friday and as we go into the weekend uh the the threat should reduce a good bit to the low to moderate uh uh stage as we go into the weekend so that's going to be the good news for the Alabama Gulf Coast but how much rain could we see that could be a concern now I do think the heaviest rainfall is going to stay to the West uh where they could easily pick up five 10 inches of rainfall in parts of Mississippi into Louisiana here in uh the Alabama Gulf Coast of Florida Panhandle maybe a couple of inches of rainfall so uh flooding is a small threat but I think the flood concerns going to be a little bit greater farther to the west and they're looking at those temperatures tomorrow in the 80s and we're looking at a good chance for rain tomorrow of course as the storm moves to the north but as it moves away the energy moves away the rain chances Friday become a little bit on the isolated side across the area so that's what we're looking at uh there we've also had a lot of questions asking us about school closures obviously that is not our decision to make that is for those schools to decide the safety of those students uh but we will say this tomorrow morning we're looking at wind and rain and that's going to cause some issues on the road so if you have to go to work school use caution allow plenty of time uh to get to your destination what does that uh Kim so Matt so I just want to jump in here and talk about what we're looking at as far as some of these questions we got a lot of questions someone asking about Montford um what's H how's the weather in mford going to be looking and if if you're watching me there well looks like for tomorrow we'll start to see some of the heavier Rain by late morning into the afternoon there is an isolated tornado threat so if you are in East Alabama certainly make sure you have ways to get those alerts tomorrow later in the day in case we do have some warnings that happen uh checking out uh kayle is worried about the threat of flooding and the threat of tornadoes and of course the threat of flooding is going to be a big story if you down into Southwest Alabama notice East Mississippi has a flash flood watch and effect and and I just want to stress here with us coming out of a drought this is a good thing I mean it is yeah yeah we need the rain a lot of this will soak up right away you know one thing and I mentioned this yesterday since we've been in the drought you may have noticed we already have a lot of leaves falling I have yeah yeah I mean the trees are stressed and and we're already Sor and it's not necessarily the fall change it's it's because it's been so dry so you know if you have areas around your home I know I have one spot that always every time we have Heavy Rain it starts to flood yeah so I always have to clean off the drain and you know just take this opportunity today to make some you know preparations around the house because we're going to have some heavy rainfall for any Heavy Rain occasion you know and to elaborate on that so tomorrow's the main impacts but looking ahead at Friday and Saturday what's left of Fran's just going to kind of spin around and some of the miles are showing some storms and showers kind of training in spots across uh near the I65 Corridor so we will have to watch that Friday and a Saturday see how much we get tomorrow and then see what it sets up Friday because there could be a small threat for flooding too so we're going to have to watch that as well we have that first alert weather day also extended into Friday although the biggest impacts are Tomorrow there's still going to be some impacts Friday as well and we've also had some other questions I believe um let's see I was just saw it and the question just moved around how much do you think at some point Central Alabama will be under a tornado watch I think it's probably likely we'll see sometime of watch somewhere right yeah and most likely you you mostly need to watch the afternoon as we heat up we have that instability tomorrow so we might see a watch pop up for tomorrow afternoon and then maybe again on Friday you know as you talked about these systems you know they're interesting you know we see we see them make landfall and and so many times we've had these systems move in andall all out and and the models kind of bring this thing Inland and then it just stays there and Spins for a couple days to the north of us so there's a chance that you're going to get an area where this rain just sets up for the next couple days as you talked about so we'll need to watch Friday as well especially East Alabama and this is not a situation where you know you track one storm and it's producing a tornado and we track it all the way across the state you're sitting there you're looking at you've got rain showing up on radar and then all of a sudden you see the the signal that hey this thing's trying to rotate so you get these quick warnings they typically don't last long maybe 5 15 minutes you know and what's great is uh love our Weather Service here in Birmingham they're great they try to get rid of that false alarm warning and they're going to be watching the radar closely we're going to be watching it closely if we see something suspicious we'll let you know uh I know a lot of people are going to be asking as well I've already had a few of these questions on my Facebook page they're asking about high school football Friday right yeah I had someone asked about that earlier and there's a chance that we're probably going to have some leftover rain some scattered showers maybe some scattered storms and also for this weekend for the Auburn game as well down in Lee County uh just check that forecast because there might be some scattered storms there as well so maybe we want to grab a poncho just in case yes it's not going to be a wash out though there will be spots that stay dry but there could be some rain in the area so we'll be we'll be watching that as well it looks like Central what happens here tomorrow morning and I just want to go through this one more time as as we look at some of the model data and Matt you were showing what we have access that's the thing about here and and we have all all the model access access here at WBC so you had the IBM the graph is one of the new models a global atmospheric high resolution forecast system and this is the HR as it's called both great products here but these models they have a little bit different with respect to the physics here so we get a little a different view on this but what's happening now is as this system is making a landfall it's better organized models and and and we have more weather balloon data across the region we have a lot more data that goes into this to help forecast and this is they're both really coming into line here showing that the heaviest of this rain this Northeastern quadrant is going to be working into the Southwest part of the area here late tonight someone was asking about let me see what that question was I think Greensboro Greensboro is one of those areas in Hil County Green County by tomorrow morning by 6 7:00 we're probably going to have some wind gust in there 40 miles hour perhaps yeah definitely so uh be mindful of that and I always tell you I've been saying it over and over just keep those electronic devices charged there might be some power outages and we'll be watching that as well yeah just in case there are some some random outages so in the morning we start out we have a lot of rain it it it's it's becoming quite Breezy quite windy during the day as we get to 4:00 in the afternoon Matt this is this is what we need to watch here this little I just call it a tail it's kind of like a feeder band it's just wrapping into that circulation these little areas in here we'll need to watch in case they try to spin up uh there's going to be a window in the afternoon as we heat up into the 70s that added instability we'll have to keep an eye on that and then tomorrow night we still need to watch it but overnight as we lose the heating of the day that might help us out help some of this weekend but then watch as we go into Friday notice it comes back these little areas start to pop up again so that's still around that one location so we may end up and I know East Alabama we really need the rain that's one of those areas we might actually end up with some decent totals notice Birmingham if that sets up where you've got this south to North axis here with these off and on downpours through tomorrow tomorrow night yeah flooding will be an issue yeah and I was looking at the weather prediction center they put up those uh daily outlooks when it comes to rainfall and they were showing they changed their Outlook recently showing maybe a little bit of a higher rainfall totals right around I65 and I think it's because of those bands that those models are depicting so yeah you never know there could be an isolated flood threat over the next 24 to 48 hours we'll just have to watch and wait and seeing what happens so so Kaylee says I'm prepared for this weather event cell phones charg and ready to go um Brody Wesson checking in over at Mississippi State and Brody's one of our first alert weather Watchers he says there they expecting uh preparing for some of those impacts starting tonight Amber Matt asking about the Gatson area in edwa county is it safe from the tornado risk actually need to watch that area as well yeah I think everyone that's in our area is going to have a threat to see an isolated tornado but I really do think right along I65 into East Alabama tomorrow afternoon and evening could be the area that could set up for an isolated tornado threat so we'll just have to all wait watch and see what happens and once again have multiple ways to receive those warnings at WBC First Alert weather app make sure it's uh showing up where you're at it'll notify it's a great tool to have it upates you uh uh I want to get TOA if you could pull up on the computer here some someone was asking about can we explain what Peak surge is and um want to pull up the storm surge map that that I have here for the Gulf Coast and just talk a little bit about this mat and you you know we were we were mentioning south Louisiana and the area of course Very prone to flooding it's Marsh it's uh down in this area we've seen a lot of tropical systems make landfall you can see that the this uh actually this is showing up to 6 feet but there's some areas in red right here we could see 9 to 12T and I've got an updated uh graphic of that and so if you can uh tenia um if you can punch up links to on the router uh that should show up and show a better yeah there we go so yeah the Reds up to 12 feet and that storm surge threat is actually going to be happening between now and tonight as that storm is making landfall this evening but yeah 3 to six in yellow and in blue it's up to 3 feet there so the farther away you are from the center you're going to see less storm surge closer to the center and off to the north and east where you're getting that counterclockwise flow that's unfortunately the area that's going to get that water from the ocean from the Gulf spreading into land and that's where you can get a devastating flooding you have to remember hurricanes have multiple hazards it's not just wind we look at categories based off winds but they have a flooding concern they have the storm surge concern so much that's the thing the storm surg I mean if you go back and you look at some of the video when hurricane Michael it it just blew me away how quickly that wall of water uh moved in and that's the thing you know first thing you look at with a tropical system you see well is it you know producing 100 m per hour winds 155 m per hour winds but every time it's the flooding it's the coastal storm surge catches folks off guard and then ends up causing some of the most intense destruction that we see and you know with this you know up to 12T I mean wow I mean that's that's a big- Time storm surge and to explain how this happens of course with these as we mentioned they bring that they bring the swells in with that south wind that counterclockwise circulation just piles all this water along the coast that's why uh was it Ernesto I know we had a system earlier this year where they ended up around Galveston dealing with lots of flooding even though the system was you know 100 miles away I mean but the way this is move South Alabama by the waywest Alabama mobile Baldwin County are underneath uh tropical storm warnings right now so they are expecting up to six foot storm surge likely see that in the Mobile Bay those higher water levels as this comes on Shore but we really w't start to see some of those stronger tropical storm Force type wind gust places like mobile Gulf Shores Orange Beach until later on this evening yeah that's right and I've got you know I've had had some people messag me also have a comment saying that they have a little bit of anxiety when it comes to tornadoes and storms when it comes to Tropical systems hurricanes tropical storms their source of energy is warm ocean water without it they start to weaken so that's why we're not expecting hurricane conditions because the storm is a little bit weaker once it moves over land it's going to start losing its punch pretty much so those winds are going to slowly go down as it goes farther Inland so that's why we're under that wind advisory we're not under a tropical storm watcher warning uh it would be a completely different scenario if this thing was moving 30 mph to the Northeast and it was a category 3 plus hurricane that would be like opal like kind of conditions across the area we're not seeing anything like that but we're still looking at rain and wind that's going to cause some issues that we just want to make sure you stay safe and just have ways to receive those warnings so I understand those that are very anxious when it comes to active weather maybe your pets are anxious as well uh usually in these tropical systems they're not going to produce a lot of lightning or thunder it's just low line clouds lot of rain and Gusty winds at times and that's really what most of us are going to be experiencing some good soaking rain to help get rid of this drought it'd be nice to get rid of the wind though because obviously it's going to cause a few issues in spots but we'll have to just wait and see what happens uh as we go into the next 24 hours yeah someone asking about in Louisiana the Sicilia area in Louisiana which is not far from Lafayette so we're talking about to the West mat to the to the west of that Center so for those areas there you're on the better side of this system probably have those strong North Winds of course a lot of rain but once this passes by you won't have the prolonged impacts of like what we're going to be seeing further east yeah so just continue to look into more of these uh I think we've answered a good bit of these questions yeah I want to check and uh and just make sure we're uh I want to look at the watches and advisories one more time here for South Louisiana and it does look like uh that area there around um lafette also included in the tropical storm warning in that area uh this is a look at the uh statement there from National Weather Service in Lake Charles uh just issued a statement here talking about the tropical storm warning has been canceled for West cam West Cameron uh parish Allen Parish areas uh looks like the storm's about 110 miles Southeast of Cameron Louisiana about 90 Mi Southwest of Morgan City at last check moving Northeast at 40 moving Northeast at 16 mil hour and storm strength there showing 90 mes per hour and of course they're concerned about the storm inundation the storm surge there out along and east of that Center which a lot of this of course now with it tracking a bit further east looks like over around the New Orleans area leeville some of those places there in Southeast Louisiana probably deal with some of the greatest storm surge associated with this yeah and I've got another question asking is there a chance we could see a flood watch across the area right now the Weather Service they're actually updating their afternoon products as we speak so there is a chance they could uh right now they've already issued that win advisory so you probably got that notification on your phone uh so that's the only advisory we're under right now that doesn't begin till midnight tonight and continues throughout the day tomorrow for those potential gusts up to 30 to 40 mph I think because we been in a drought and we need the rain uh there's no need to have a watch at the moment but obviously if we get a lot of good rain tomorrow and we see more chances for heavy rainfall going into Friday there may be a chance but I'm not going to predict what's going to happen of what forecasters are going to issue we're just waiting seeing what happens uh but there is a chance but right now no active flood watch for us yeah we we've declared First Alert weather days basically for those impacts starting late tonight continuing throughout tomorrow but just just want to stress you know the one good thing about this we're going to get some much needed rain out of it it's going to be windy tomorrow this will move on through we just need to monitor the radar and just be ready to take action in case we do see a tornado warning I mean it's been a little while so just double check make sure you have fresh batteries in your weather radio I mention our weather app someone posted on here I downloaded the weather app make sure you have the latest version you have your location selected so you can also receive those alerts there on uh the weather app as this moves through but it's been a little while you know the last time we had Ernesto and then there was you know just last week we were talking about wow you know we were talking about this active Atlantic hurricane season we haven't seen anything and and when you look at since Ernesto until this thing formed the last time we had that that sort of window with little activity was like 1968 I mean it was just incredible but um now of course look yesterday's a peak of hurricane season so this is expected this time of the year and and I'm really shocked that it's taking this long giving the forecast for us to see a system like this impact the area now Matt you noted earlier that there is another system that has formed out in the Atlantic and I know we've been talking a lot about Francine but if you haven't heard there's a new I guess it's still a depression but it's way out over the Atlantic and show us where that systems located we'll go ahead break it down real quick so obviously Francine's the main concern you see this area in yellow so that's the Southeast coast that's uh right off the Southeast coast of the Atlantic there's some miles hting at a low pressure developing over the weekend that could be hit in the Carolina so that's something that could develop over time uh but then as we look farther out into the uh Central and Eastern Atlantic Ocean we're watching two little disturbances but this tropical way that just moved off of Africa that's actually tropical depression 7 and it has a chance to become an tropical storm later on tonight or into tomorrow the name Gordon I think it is Gordon um I can put I can look it up I think I had it up it's yeah Gordon so yeah Gordon could be our next name and yeah yesterday was the is the peak of the hurricane season right on par we got a hurricane forming and now a tropical depression so here you go so here you go you know and it happens like this you'll see you know four or five of these systems this time of the year and then about a week or two it'll just settle down so hope hopefully that happens and I think and I think seven by the way trop depression 7even I we'll watch it but I don't think it's going to have any issues to the United States thankfully we'll cross our fingers watch it over time but right now it doesn't look like it's going to be an immediate threat so uh a truck driver from Birmingham to Sparta Tennessee tomorrow so what can I expect heading towards Chattanooga well if you if you get an early start tomorrow morning you'll probably get out ahead of the rain early in the day out ahead of this during the early morning driving in that general direction on 59 however I think uh after lunchtime you'll probably start to see some of those bands of rain reaching East Alabama don't know if it'll quite reach that far north do you think as far as early afternoon may may take a little while into the afternoon but uh you know driving a a truck though with just to mention those winds tomorrow yeah uh 20 30 mph we have wind advisory so high-profile vehicle certainly want to keep both hands on the wheel it's going to be shaking at times so be careful and you have to remember hasn't rain much either so the roads are going to be a little extra slick too definitely want to slow down have your lights on be careful if you're out and about on the roadways uh but yeah I think that's about it with the questions we are really so happy that you were able to join us on this YouTube chat and got a lot of great questions hopefully we're able to answer them we're going to have more coverage later on this evening at 4: and throughout the day tomorrow of course uh we got you covered and what what was it called we just call it babysitting the radar right that's what we're going to be doing yeah babysitting the radar watching the radar in case we see anything of course we give you that First Alert you know we have a show at 6:30 just a reminder First Alert weather extra it's the only show like it that's ever happened in Alabama 30 minutes all about weather it airs week nights at 6:30 so we'll be talking all about this of course we've got the team we always have the radar covered and the forecast never left unattended so we'll pass along plenty of updates keep you well informed stay with