WIDESPREAD FLOODING

Hurricane Sally Threatens ‘Historic Rainfall’ Across Gulf Coast

The storm could bring up to 30 inches of precipitation across parts of the Gulf Coast.

Hurricane Sally was downgraded from a Category 2 to a Category 1 storm early Tuesday, but will still pose a significant flooding risk for coastal Mississippi, Alabama, and western Florida. “We’re talking about (potentially) a historic rainfall event” through Wednesday, National Hurricane Director Ken Graham told CNN. Over two feet of rain could possibly drench parts of the Gulf Coast, and a life-threatening storm surge—caused by the sea rising as a result of changes in pressure and heavy winds—is predicted to rise up to 9 feet from the Mississippi coast to Mobile, Alabama, and up to 7 feet along the remaining Alabama coast.