Hurricane Gustav - September 1, 2008
On August 25th, Gustav formed as the 7th tropical depression of 2008 near the Caribbean. Tropical Depression #7 quickly strengthened into Tropical Storm Gustav later on the 25th. Gustav continued to strengthen and gained hurricane status early on the 26th as it approached Hispaniola. Gustav lost strength as it crossed southwestern Haiti, but nearly regained hurricane strength before reaching Jamaica. As Gustav moved beyond Jamaica, it rapidly intensified into a Category 4 Hurricane before striking Cuba on August 30th. Gustav slowly weakened as it moved into the Gulf of Mexico and toward the northern Gulf Coast. Hurricane Gustav made landfall in southeast Louisiana on September 1st in 2008. The satellite image below shows Hurricane Gustav near landfall on September 1, 2008.
Photo courtesy of NASA EarthData.
Once making landfall, Gustav slowly moved across the region, leading to very heavy rainfall on September 2nd and 3rd. The highest rain totals occurred just east of the track of the center of the storm. Although our area was quite far from the center of Gustav, outer rainbands produced rainfall amounts of 5-7 inches in some areas across parts of southern Mississippi, coastal Alabama, and northwest Florida with 6-9 inches across Mobile County in Alabama. 8.40 inches of rain was measured in the Loxley, AL area with 7.46 inches measured in Robertsdale, AL (both in Baldwin County). Many streets were closed due to high water as the heavy rain could not run off due to above normal tides. This rainfall depiction can be viewed in WPC graphic below
Photo courtesy of NOAA WPC.
In addition to the heavy rain, Gustav produced 6 EF0 tornadoes across the northwest Florida panhandle and in Baldwin County, AL. Storm surge was also an issue across the area as many coastal communities experienced 3-7 foot storm tide (storm surge + tide). A 7.5 foot storm tide was observed at Fort Morgan, AL with moderate beach erosion. A 6.7 foot storm tide occurred at Coast Guard Sector Mobile and 6.2 foot storm tide at Bayou La Batre (Mobile County, AL). Major beach erosion occurred on Dauphin Island and the $4 million berm on the west end of Dauphin Island was destroyed due to surge.
Jump to - Public Information Statement, Post-Tropical Cyclone Report or Additional Information section.
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
500 PM CDT TUE SEP 2 2008...RAINFALL TOTALS FROM HURRICANE GUSTAV...
BELOW ARE SOME SELECTED PRELIMINARY RAINFALL TOTALS ASSOCIATED WITH
HURRICANE GUSTAV. THE RAINFALL TOTALS ARE 2 DAY TOTALS ENDING AT
1 PM TODAY (09/02/08).ASOS/AWOS SITES FROM 1AM (09/01/08) THROUGH 1PM (09/02/08)
PENSACOLA NAS FL (NPA)..........3.62
DOWNTOWN MOBILE AL (BFM)........3.01
MOBILE REGIONAL APRT AL (MOB)...2.10
PENSACOLA FL (PNS)..............2.09
DESTIN FL (DTS).................1.55
EGLIN AFB FL (VPS)..............1.26
HURLBERT FIELD FL (HRT).........0.38
CRESTVIEW FL (CEW)..............0.28
ANDALUSIA AL (79J)..............0.50
FLORALA AL (0J4)................0.39MOBILE NWS OFFICE: 2.06 INCHES: 1AM (09/01/08) TO 1 PM (09/02/08)
OTHER OBSERVATIONS/COOP FROM MIDNIGHT (09/01/08) THROUGH 1200 PM (09/02/08)
MOBILE AL (PRESS-REGISTER)......8.82
LOXLEY AL.......................8.40
MOBILE AL (HENRY REID FS).......8.03
LOXLEY AL.......................8.00
SARALAND AL.....................7.32
MOBILE AL (CENTRAL FS)..........6.31
LOXLEY AL.......................6.28
MOBILE AL (J D WILLETT FS)......5.65
MOBILE AL (DOUGLAS FS)..........5.51
MOBILE AL (TOULMINVILLE FS).....5.23
WEEKS BAY /FAIRHOPE AL..........4.61
PENSACOLA FL (SHERIFF)..........4.50
NEW AUGUSTA MS..................4.42
FAIRHOPE 3NE AL.................4.26
SEMMES AL (AWIS)................3.83
PERKINSTON MS...................3.77
NEW AUGUSTA MS..................3.77
LEAKESVILLE MS..................3.76
MERRILL MS......................3.67
MOBILE AL (STATION 9)...........3.52
MOBILE AL (GUS REHM FS..........3.46
MCLAIN MS.......................3.37
FAIRHOPE AL.....................3.33
BEAUMONT EXP. STATION 1 MS......3.32
PENSACOLA FL (JUDICAL CENTER)...3.28
SEMMES AL.......................3.25
GULF BREEZE FL..................3.21
ELBERTA AL......................3.04
WIGGINS MS......................3.03
WAYNESBORO MS...................3.02
ROBERTSDALE AL..................2.43
WIGGINS MS (WGAM6)..............2.16
MAGNOLIA RIVER AL...............2.05
PENSACOLA FL (PSAF1)............1.90
BREWTON, AL.....................0.77
CHATOM AL.......................0.76
NICEVILLE FL....................0.66
CRESTVIEW FL....................0.60
ATMORE AL.......................0.50
THOMASVILLE 3S AL...............0.30
GILBERTOWN AL...................0.18
GROVE HILL AL...................0.03
MONROEVILLE AL..................0.03
BUTLER AL.......................0.00$$
CACERES
POST TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORT...HURRICANE GUSTAV
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
226 PM CDT THU SEP 4 2008
NOTE: THE DATA SHOWN HERE ARE PRELIMINARY....AND SUBJECT TO UPDATES
AND CORRECTIONS AS APPROPRIATE.
THIS REPORT INCLUDES EVENTS OCCURRING WHEN WATCHES AND/OR WARNINGS
WERE IN EFFECT FOR GUSTAV.
COUNTIES INCLUDED...BALDWIN...ESCAMBIA FL...GEORGE...GREENE...
MOBILE...OKALOOSA...PERRY...SANTA ROSA...STONE...WASHINGTON...
WAYNE
A. LOWEST SEA LEVEL PRESSURE/MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS AND PEAK GUSTS
---------------------------------------------------------------------
METAR OBSERVATIONS...
NOTE: ANEMOMETER HEIGHT IS 10 METERS AND WIND AVERAGING IS 2 MINUTES
---------------------------------------------------------------------
LOCATION ID MIN DATE/ MAX DATE/ PEAK DATE/
LAT LON PRES TIME SUST TIME GUST TIME
DEG DECIMAL (MB) (UTC) (KT) (UTC) (KT) (UTC)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
KMOB-MOBILE REGIONAL
30.67 -88.24 1004.4 01/0902 130/023 01/2056 120/038 01/2333
KBFM-MOBILE BRROKLEY
30.64 -88.07 1004.7 01/0852 130/032 01/1900 120/044 01/1939
KJKA-GULF SHORES
30.29 -87.67 9999.0 110/026 01/1900 110/040 01/1740
KNPA-PENSACOLA NAS
30.36 -87.32 1009.4 01/2056 110/025 01/2054 100/045 01/2041
KPNS-PENSACOLA REGIONAL
30.47 -87.20 1005.8 01/0849 130/028 01/1311 130/042 01/1136
KNDZ-MILTON NORTH
30.72 -87.02 1008.9 01/1956 120/024 01/1756 130/037 01/1948
KNSE-MILTON SOUTH
30.70 -87.02 1000.0 02/1256 130/014 02/1456 110/018 02/1556
KVPS-VALPARISO
30.48 -86.53 1011.1 01/2055 120/023 01/1707 110/034 01/1708
KDTS-DESTIN
30.40 -86.47 1006.8 01/0726 120/024 01/1653 120/034 01/1653
REMARKS:
NON-METAR OBSERVATIONS...
NOTE: ANEMOMETER HEIGHT IN METERS AND WIND AVERAGING PERIOD IN
MINUTES INDICATED UNDER MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WIND IF KNOWN
---------------------------------------------------------------------
LOCATION ID MIN DATE/ MAX DATE/ PEAK DATE/
LAT LON PRES TIME SUST TIME GUST TIME
DEG DECIMAL (MB) (UTC) (KT) (UTC) (KT) (UTC)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
6W MARY ESTHER
30.40 -86.60 1005.4 01/1000 100/038 01/1440 100/045 01/1510
200
REMARKS:
B. MARINE OBSERVATIONS...
NOTE: ANEMOMETER HEIGHT IN METERS AND WIND AVERAGING PERIOD IN
MINUTES INDICATED UNDER MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WIND IF KNOWN
---------------------------------------------------------------------
LOCATION ID MIN DATE/ MAX DATE/ PEAK DATE/
LAT LON PRES TIME SUST TIME GUST TIME
DEG DECIMAL (MB) (UTC) (KT) (UTC) (KT) (UTC)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
DPIA1-DAUPHIN ISLAND
30.24 -88.07 1003.3 01/1100 110/036 01/1400 090/052 01/1000
42040-64 MILES SOUTH DAUPHIN ISLAND
29.17 -88.29 993.7 01/0900 080/046 01/0700 100/056 01/0814
REMARKS:
C. STORM TOTAL RAINFALL FROM 0600 UTC SEP 01 UNTIL 1800 UTC SEP 02
---------------------------------------------------------------------
CITY/TOWN COUNTY ID RAINFALL
LAT LON (IN)
DEG DECIMAL
---------------------------------------------------------------------
LOXLEY BALDWIN 8.40
30.61 -87.75
SARALAND MOBILE 7.32
30.82 -88.07
FAIRHOPE BALDWIN 4.61
30.52 -87.90
PENSACOLA ESCAMBIA 4.50
30.42 -87.19
NEW AUGUSTA PERRY 4.42
31.20 -89.03
SEMMES MOBILE 3.83
30.77 -88.26
PERKINSTON STONE 3.77
30.78 -89.14
LEAKESVILLE GREENE 3.76
31.15 -88.56
MERRILL GEORGE 3.67
30.97 -88.72
MCLAIN GREENE 3.37
31.10 -88.83
BEAUMONT PERRY 3.32
31.16 -88.92
GULF BREEZE SANTA ROSA 3.21
30.35 -87.20
ELBERTA BALDWIN 3.04
30.41 -87.60
WIGGINS STONE 3.03
30.85 -89.14
WAYNESBORO WAYNE 3.02
31.67 -88.65
PENSACOLA ESCAMBIA NPA 3.62
30.42 -87.19
DOWNTOWN MOBILE MOBILE BFM 3.01
30.69 -88.04
DOWNTOWN MOBILE MOBILE 8.82
30.69 -88.04
DOWNTOWN MOBILE MOBILE 8.03
30.69 -88.04
DOWNTOWN MOBILE MOBILE 6.31
30.69 -88.04
2 SW DOWNTOWN MOBILE MOBILE 5.65
30.69 -88.04
1 W DOWNTOWN MOBILE UPPER MOBILE 5.51
30.68 -88.06
PRICHARD UPPER MOBILE 5.23
30.73 -88.09
2 WSW DOWNTOWN MOBILE MOBILE 3.52
30.69 -88.04
ROBERTSDALE BALDWIN 7.46
30.55 -87.71
AGRICOLA GEORGE 3.19
30.80 -88.52
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALAB MOBILE 3.28
30.69 -88.18
REMARKS: MOST OF THE DOWNTOWN MOBILE REPORTS WERE FROM WEATHERBUG
SITES AT FIRE STATIONS AROUND THE CITY.
D. INLAND FLOODING...
---------------------------------------------------------------------
BALDWIN...HEAVY RAINS ACROSS THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST PARTS OF THE
COUNTY CAUSED WATER TO OVERFLOW FROM DITCHES AND COVERED MOST ROADS.
SOME OF THE WATER WAS SEVERAL FEET DEEP IN THE STREETS AND THE ROADS
WERE IMPASSIBLE FOR SEVERAL HOURS.
MOBILE...SIX TO NINE INCHES OF RAIN FELL CAUSING SEVERAL AREAS IN
SOUTH...CENTRAL AND THE EAST PARTS OF THE COUNTY TO FLOOD. MANY
STREETS IN THESE AREAS HAD TO BE CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER. THE
HEAVY RAINS COULD NOT RUN OFF BECAUSE OF ABOVE NORMAL TIDES.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
E. MAXIMUM STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...
OFFICIAL TIDE GAUGES NOTED WITH LEADING G
---------------------------------------------------------------------
COUNTY CITY/TOWN SURGE TIDE DATE/ BEACH
OR LOCATION (FT) (FT) TIME EROSION
---------------------------------------------------------------------
MOBILE G BAYOU LA BATRE 5.50 6.20 01/1526 UNKNOWN
MOBILE G DAUPHIN ISLAND 3.50 4.20 01/1617 MAJOR
BALDWIN G FORT MORGAN 6.90 7.50 01/1433 MODERATE
MOBILE G MOBILE BAY (MBT 4.40 5.10 01/1711 UNKNOWN
MOBILE G MIDDLE BAY (MID 3.90 4.60 01/1552 UNKNOWN
BALDWIN G PERDIDO PASS (P 3.20 3.90 01/1830 UNKNOWN
OKALOOSA G SANTA ROSA SOUN 2.40 3.10 01/2012 MINOR
OKALOOSA EAST PASS (EPSF 2.80 3.50 01/1711 UNKNOWN
MOBILE G MOBILE STATE DO 4.20 4.90 01/1912 UNKNOWN
ESCAMBIA G PENSACOLA 3.40 4.10 01/1436 UNKNOWN
MOBILE COAST GUARD SEC 6.00 6.70 01/2012 UNKNOWN
REMARKS:
F. TORNADOES...
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(DIST)CITY/TOWN COUNTY DATE/ EF SCALE
LAT LON (DEG DECIMAL TIME(UTC) (IF KNOWN)
DESCRIPTION
---------------------------------------------------------------------
GULF BREEZE SANTA ROSA 01/1355 EF0
30.35 -87.20
TREE DAMAGE
NAVARRE SANTA ROSA 01/1500 EF0
30.41 -86.86
TREES DOWN
VALPARAISO OKALOOSA 01/1445 EF0
30.51 -86.50
WEAK TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN ON EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE. TREES WERE BLOWN
DOWN. A COUPLE OF TREES FELL ON TWO HOMES.
ELBERTA BALDWIN 01/1805 EF0
30.41 -87.60
MINOR DAMAGE TO A TRAILER. TREES DOWN.
WARRINGTON ESCAMBIA 01/2008 EF0
30.38 -87.27
MINOR DAMAGE JUST NORTH OF PENSACOLA NAS.
WARRINGTON ESCAMBIA 01/2045 EF0
30.38 -87.27
A TORNADO BRIEFLY TOUCHED DOWN ON PENSACOLA NAS. NO DAMAGE WAS
FOUND.
G. STORM IMPACTS BY COUNTY...
---------------------------------------------------------------------
COUNTY DEATHS INJURIES EVACUATIONS
DESCRIPTION
---------------------------------------------------------------------
BALDWIN
BALDWIN COUNTY OFFICIALS ORDERED EVACUATIONS TO RESIDENTS IN THE FORT
MORGAN AREA AND PEOPLE LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND RIVERS THAT USUALLY
FLOOD. STORM SURGE CAUSED AREAS AROUND FORT MORGAN TO FLOOD. TWO
SHELTERS WERE OPENED AND THERE WERE 370 PEOPLE IN THEM.
MOBILE
MOBILE COUNTY ORDERED EVACUATIONS OF RESIDENTS GENERALLY SOUTH OF
I-10 AND IN AREAS EAST OF I-65 THAT USUALLY FLOOD. NINE SHELTERS
WERE OPENED AND 2000 PEOPLE WERE IN THEM. SEVERAL OF THE SHELTERS
HAD PEOPLE THAT HAD EVACUATED FROM MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA.
SEVERAL AREAS HAD HIGH WATER FROM STORM SURGE. THE CAUSEWAY WAS
CLOSED AS WERE MANY STREETS NEAR DOWNTOWN DUE TO HIGH WATER. BAYOU
SARA IN SARALAND ROSE OUT OF ITS BANKS AND 53 RESIDENTS HAD TO BE
EVACUATED. THE BAYOU ROSE TO THE SECOND HIGHEST READING EVER. THE
FOUR MILLION DOLLAR BERM ON THE WEST END OF DAUPHIN ISLAND WAS
DESTROYED BY THE SURGE.
ESCAMBIA FL
HIGH WATER ON PENSACOLA BEACH FORCED RESIDENTS IN A CONDO TO MOVE TO
THE SECOND FLOOR DUE TO TWO FEET OF WATER IN THE LOWER FLOORS.
OKALOOSA
HIGH WATER COVERED HIGHWAY 98 ON OKALOOSA ISLAND. THE ROAD REMAINED
OPEN BUT MOTORISTS WERE URGED TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION.
$$
Legend:
I-Incomplete Data
E-Estimated
GARY BEELER
NHC Advisory Archive
WPC Archive
NHC Tropical Cyclone Report - Hurricane Gustav
NWS Local Write-Ups and Webpages:
NWS New Orleans
NWS Lake Charles
NWS Jackson, MS
Acknowledgements: Page created by Morgan Barry (forecaster).
LAST UPDATED: November 2016
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