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Escambia County EMA officials said earlier this evening that the forecast track for Hurricane Sally shifted slightly to the east again.

Director David Adams said in an email that the hurricane is showing expected landfall near the Alabama-Mississippi line Tuesday night as a strong Category 2 storm.

Current sustained winds are at 100 miles per hour with a forward speed of 6 mph to the west northwest.

“The updated forecast raised the chance of tropical storm force winds (>39 mph) in Escambia County to higher that 80% for most of the county, with highest chances in the west end of the county,” Adams said. “The chance of strong tropical storm force winds (58-73 mph) has increased to higher than 40% for most of the county. Storm total rainfall predictions have also increased as well; totals from 8-10 inches in the central portions and 10-15 inches in the far western portions of the county, with the potential of as much as 20 inches in localized areas. 

“Flooding is a real threat with this storm,” he said. “Isolated tornadoes are possible throughout the area.”

Adams said conditions should start to worsen during the day tomorrow.

“Heavy rainfall and winds may persist through most of the day Wednesday,” he said.

Other points Adams included include:

• A significant flood event for some areas is likely.

• There is still a greater than normal uncertainty and the track could still shift further east.

• This will be a prolonged event given the slow movement of Sally.