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Hurricane Sally has strengthened to Category 2 as the storm approaches the southern coast of the United States. Heavy rains have washed over parts of northwest Florida.
On Tuesday night local time, Sally’s wind speed increased from 35.5 meters per second to 38.9 seconds, reports the NHC hurricane warning center in Miami.
Heavy rain, strong waves, and storm surge were also reported in parts of the northwest coast of Florida and Alabama. Up to 10 centimeters of rain has already fallen on parts of the coast.
In Pensacola, Florida, water has begun to flow through the streets, NTB writes.
At the time, the center of the storm was still over the Gulf of Mexico. Sally could get even stronger before the center of the storm reaches the southern coast of the United States in the hours of Wednesday morning local time, according to forecasts.
Lots of rain waiting
Sally was located about 115 miles south of Mobile in Alabama and about the same distance southwest of Pensacola in Florida on Wednesday night. The storm then moved slowly north toward land at a speed of four kilometers per hour.
– A hurricane moving at four kilometers per hour has stopped in almost every way. If they don’t move and stay calm, you get incredible amounts of rain, says Brian McNoldy, a hurricane researcher at the University of Miami.
Rainfall of up to 75 centimeters and a historic flood level have been announced, according to NHC.
