Florida in Path of Dangerous Gulf Hurricane
Hurricane Opal raced toward the northeast Gulf Coast late Tuesday, threatening areas still recovering from Hurricane Erin with deadly 115-m.p.h. winds and heavy rain.
The storm’s northeast pace quickened from 11 to 21 m.p.h. within hours, meaning landfall could occur this afternoon. Panama City was the most likely target for Opal’s eye, forecasters said.
“By far this is the biggest storm this year for Florida,” Joe Myers, state director of the Division of Emergency Management, said late Tuesday. “It’s the biggest storm for Florida since Hurricane Andrew.”
Residents already weary of the busy hurricane season embarked on what has become the routine practice of boarding up their homes.
At least 10 people died and 20 were missing in Mexico after Opal passed over the Yucatan peninsula, causing flooding that drove more than 20,000 people in Campeche state from their homes.
Late Tuesday night, Opal was about 265 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Officials in the Florida Panhandle worried that Opal’s rapid strengthening would catch people off guard.
County officials in the Florida Panhandle ordered low-lying areas evacuated Tuesday night. State offices were closed in coastal areas.
Hurricane warnings were issued from Mobile, Ala. east to Anclote Key on the west coast of Florida.
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