West Alabama Tuesday Briefing
It is Tuesday, September 12, 2023. On this date in 1979 Hurricane Frederic made landfall at Dauphin Island, becoming the first major hurricane to come inland up Mobile Bay. The Category 4 storm produced winds to 132mph and maintained hurricane force winds into West Alabama. Five people died. The death toll was most likely held down because Frederick did not produce the heavy rainfall usually associated with such powerful storms.
Over 500,000 people evacuated from the Central Gulf Coast Region ahead of Hurricane Frederic - the largest evacuation along the Gulf Coast up to that time. The damage cost from Frederic was $2.3 billion.
There is no tropical weather in our forecast today but the potential for some needed rainfall is.
The Forecast:
Today: A slight chance of showers between 11am and 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers between 10pm and 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday: A slight chance of showers between 10am and 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Remainder of the Week: Partly cloudy Thursday with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms Friday afternoon. High in the mid 80s, low in the mid 60s.
High School Football Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Saturday: A chance of showers during the daytime and evening hours. High in the mid 80s, low in the mid 60s.
Forecast for Alabama vs USF at Tampa Saturday Afternoon: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. High near 89. East northeast wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Topping the News:
The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education held the 1st of 3 community input sessions at Central High last night. Superintendent Dr. Michael Daria says the meetings are critical to the continued improvement of city schools. Meetings will also be held tonight at Northridge High and tomorrow night at Paul Bryant High. They begin at 6 in the school auditorium.
Tonight, the board is expected to approve at $173 million budget for the coming school year. The budget will include state mandated raises for teachers and support staff.
Joshua Dale Salters of Brookwood has been arrested for several charges, including impersonating a police officer. Coaling PD received a complaint about an attempted traffic stop. When they located the vehicle, they found 5 grams of methamphetamine, 12 counterfeit $100 bills, a ski mask, handcuffs, a recovery agent badge, two handguns, a tactical vest, an Air Soft AR 15 rifle, 9mm ammo and brass knuckles.
On this date in 1979 Hurricane Frederick made landfall at Dauphin Island, becoming the first major hurricane to come inland up Mobile Bay. The Cat 4 storm produced winds to 132mph and maintained hurricane force winds into West Alabama. Considerable tree and power line damage occurred across West Alabama. Several tornadoes were spawned.
Attorneys for Joran van der Sloot have filed a motion requesting a second 45 day extension is his wire fraud and extortion trail in Birmingham. Van der Sloot is the man accused in the 2005 disappearance of Mountain Brook teenager Natalie Holloway in Aruba. The charges stem from him allergy extorting money from Holloway’s mother to find out where her body is located. She paid the money but never revealed any information.
A 3-judge federal panel ordered a special master to design a congressional district map for Alabama that includes two majority-minority districts because the Alabama legislature refused to do so. Now Alabama is asking the U-S Supreme Court, which ordered the redesign, allow the state to continue to fight the ruling. Plaintiff Evan Milligan believes the court is losing patience with Alabama, but Sec. of State Wes Allen has predicted he will win the case.
A new bank opens in Northport today. Investar Bank is conducting an open house with a ribbon cutting at 11 this morning. The bank is located at 120 McFarland Blvd. North.
In Sports:
That online video of racist and homophobic slurs being yelled by an Alabama fan at the Texas football team as they celebrated Saturday night’s victory over the Crimson Tide has gone viral. Millions have watched it, including potential Alabama recruits. Recruiting experts believe it will damage Bama’s recruiting efforts. UA says it will ban the perpetrator if he can be identified.
It only takes one loss for some Alabama fans to turn on their team and coach. Alabama Coach Nick Saban has heard the negative talk since Alabama’s loss to Texas Saturday night, much of it aimed at the players. But Saban defended his team to reporters yesterday saying no one was more disappointed with the outcome of the game than the players themselves.
Some fans are suggesting on social media that Saban retire and be replaced by Colorado Coach Dion Sanders.
Have a terrific Tuesday and remember, one loss by the Tide does not make a season. Every goal for the season, except going undefeated, is still there.
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