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Hurricane Sally brought high winds, heavy rain and flooding to the Gulf Coast on Sept. 16. (Video: The Washington Post)

Hurricane Center warns of ‘catastrophic flooding’ as Tropical Storm Sally lumbers inland

The storm unloaded 20 to 30 inches of rain in coastal Alabama and the Florida Panhandle

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After two days spent spinning less than 150 miles off the coast of Alabama, Florida and Mississippi, Sally finally made its move to come ashore Wednesday morning, unleashing up to 30 inches of rain, 100 mph wind gusts and a six-foot storm surge.

Areas in coastal Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle were hardest hit. By Wednesday evening, the worst weather had departed these areas, but flooding rain had spread inland over eastern Alabama and southwest Georgia.  
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On Wednesday evening, heavy rain had exited the hard-hit zone stretching between Pensacola and Mobile, but severe flooding continued in some areas because of rising rivers. The most intense rain was focused inland in southeastern Alabama and southwest Georgia, with flood warnings expanding into this area.
Into Thursday, the Hurricane Center expected significant flooding in inland portions of eastern Alabama and central Georgia. Thursday into Friday, heavy rain and flooding was forecast to spread from western South Carolina through much of North Carolina and into southeast Virginia.
At 5 p.m., the storm’s peak winds were near 60 mph as it headed northeast at 7 mph. It was forecast to weaken to a tropical depression by Thursday morning.
A tornado watch was in effect until 7 p.m. Wednesday for southern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and southwestern Georgia.
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On Wednesday evening, heavy rain had exited the hard-hit zone stretching between Pensacola and Mobile, but severe flooding continued in some areas because of rising rivers. The most intense rain was focused inland in southeastern Alabama and southwest Georgia, with flood warnings expanding into this area.
Into Thursday, the Hurricane Center expected significant flooding in inland portions of eastern Alabama and central Georgia. Thursday into Friday, heavy rain and flooding was forecast to spread from western South Carolina through much of North Carolina and into southeast Virginia.
At 5 p.m., the storm’s peak winds were near 60 mph as it headed northeast at 7 mph. It was forecast to weaken to a tropical depression by Thursday morning.
A tornado watch was in effect until 7 p.m. Wednesday for southern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and southwestern Georgia.
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