Tropical Storm Warning Issued for Coffee County: Act Now

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for Coffee County, affecting Enterprise and Elba, as of October 8 at 11:05 PM EDT by the National Weather Service (NWS) Tallahassee FL. This warning is immediate and severe, with potential for significant impacts from wind, flooding, and tornadoes. The warning is effective until October 9, 2026, 7:15 AM UTC.

Residents should complete all remaining efforts to protect life and property immediately. Move to safe shelter before hazardous winds arrive. Peak winds are forecast at 20-30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph, but there is potential for winds between 58 to 73 mph. Expect damage to roofing, siding, mobile homes, and significant tree damage, potentially causing impassable roads and power outages.

A Flood Watch is in effect, with 2-4 inches of rain forecast, and locally higher amounts possible. This presents a potential for major flooding. Emergency plans should include the likelihood of evacuations and rescues. Heed all flood watches and warnings; failure to act could result in serious injury or loss of life. Rivers, creeks, and ditches may overflow, and floodwaters could enter structures, making driving dangerous.

Conditions are favorable for tornadoes, with a potential for several, some possibly intense. Those in manufactured homes or on boats are urged to relocate to safe shelter. Listen for tornado watches and warnings, and be ready to shelter quickly if a warning is issued. Tornadoes can cause roofs to be torn off, mobile homes demolished, and significant damage from flying debris.

For more information, visit NWS Tallahassee at https://www.weather.gov/tallahassee, the Alabama Emergency Management Agency at https://ema.alabama.gov, or Coffee County Emergency Management at http://coffeecounty.us/239/Emergency-Management.