Storm Impacting the Northwest U.S.; Fire Weather Conditions in Southern California; Severe Weather in the South

A Pacific storm is bringing areas of low elevation rain, moderate to heavy mountain snow, and high winds to the Northwest. Strong Santa Ana winds and very dry conditions are producing elevated to critical fire weather conditions in southern California. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible through early Wednesday morning across parts of northeast Texas into western Tennessee. Read More >

Forming from a tropical wave on the west African coast late on August 27th, there was little to distinguish this storm from any other. But by the morning of August 30th, Frederic gained hurricane strength and began barrelling for the Carribean Sea. Frederic made landfall in Alabama on the evening of September 12th over Dauphin Island, affecting southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, and the western Florida panhandle with the worst conditions (including 8 to 12 inches of rainfall. Wind gusts of 135 mph was measured on the bridge from Dauphin Island.

Below are visible satellite images of Hurricane Frederick from NOAA archives.


Visible Satellite (NOAA) September 12, 1979	Visible Satellite (NOAA) September 13, 1979	Visible Satellite (NOAA) September 13, 1979

Although less significant, portions of northern Alabama also experienced tropical storm force wind gusts and heavy rainfall between 2 to 6 inches of rainfall. 2-4 inches fell along the track all the way to New England, but there were no reported cases of flooding with Frederick anywhere in the United States.