Tropical Cindy is getting ready to pay a visit to the Gulf Coast, spurring Alabama to declare a state of emergency and the National Weather Service to warn that heavy rainfall could produce “life-threatening flash flooding.”
The slow moving storm is creeping northward, and heavier weather started to hit the coastline Tuesday, June 20.
The National Hurricane Center (NHS) expects the storm to arrive late Wednesday or early Thursday and make its way inland through Texas and Louisiana before turning east to pass through Arkansas, Mississippi on Friday, and Tennessee by Saturday.
Some 17 million people are under a tropical storm warning over the course of the storm’s predicted path. The NHS is predicting maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (100 kph).
The main threat of the storm appears to be rain.
On Tuesday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbot ordered the State Operations Center to raise its readiness level from level four/normal conditions to level three/increased readiness.
He also activated four Texas Task Force 1 boat squads and two Texas Military Department vehicles squads of five vehicles each to respond to any weather-related emergencies.
“As we have learned in the past, weather patterns can change rapidly and without warning. That is why I am imploring all Texans in the Gulf region to stay updated and heed warnings from your local officials, avoid high water areas and refrain from attempting to drive through roadways or over bridges that have the potential to flood,” said Abbot.
The threat of torrential rains also prompted Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to issue a state of emergency Tuesday.
“This state of emergency will guarantee state resources are on standby and are ready to assist impacted communities if necessary,” said Ivey.
Double red flags, used to warn the public the beach is closed and not safe, snapped in the wind on the public beach at Gulf Shores in Alabama. The pounding surf, high tides, and rip currents can be deadly.
Matthew Little for Epoch Times
