Hurricane Opal - Fort Walton Beach, FL - October 4, 1995
BackThis is a sample of my Hurricane Opal chase footage. This video was taken during Opal's landfall in the western Florida panhandle, at Fort Walton Beach, on October 4, 1995. A day prior to landfall, Hurricane Opal had strengthened rapidly to near Category Five intensity, with sustained winds of 150mph and a minimum central pressure of 916mb (27.05in). During the following twelve hours the storm steadily weakened, however, Opal was still a very large and powerful Category Three at landfall, with sustained winds of 125mph and a central pressure of 942mb (27.82in). Hurricane conditions begin at about 3min 30sec into the video and the eyewall occurs from 4min 50sec through 7min 40sec in. Peak winds at my location were sustained between 100-110mph with gusts to 140mph. The highest officially recorded surface wind in Opal was a gust to 144mph at Hurlburt Field, near Mary Esther, Florida, in southwest Okaloosa county, which was three miles west of my location. The highest storm surge at my location was approximately 13ft and with the ground elevation at 8-10ft above sea-level, this resulted in a surge depth of 3-5ft, with higher waves. The peak surge and maximum inundation occurs just prior to the eye/calm at about 9min 40sec into the video. Though the eastern edge of Opal's eye did pass over my location, winds never fell below 20-30mph, I did record a minimum pressure of 960.3mb (28.36in) during this time.
Channel: Science & Technology
Uploaded: February 4, 2007 at 2:52 am
Author: vmax135
Length: 00:12:17
Rating: 4.77
Views: 33268
Tags: Hurricane Opal Severe Weather Tropical Cyclone Typhoon Florida Hurricanes 1995 Extreme Wind Meteorology Storm Surge
Video Comments:
herminamaria (October 23, 2008 at 10:15 pm)
I lived in Mary Esther, next to Fort Walton Beach.The beach was in walking distance. The roads were so congested that e stayed in our home. The next morning when we went out it was unbelievable. We lucked out, only some singels from the roof and the trees in the yard were down. But many neighbors had a lot of damage.
kimberly0791 (September 8, 2008 at 9:17 pm)
We lived N. of Montgomery, AL. I remember not being worried til I went to grocery store & saw food sold out. Then went to the car & looked up at the sky. Everywhere you looked there were mini rotations. My husband was in the USAF, had a hotel room @ Gunter Annex for a class. I was 6 mo. pregnant. We packed up & actually went South into the storm to stay. Had a big oak tree in front of house I thought would fall but ended up w/ 30 ft. tree in back of house. Glass window bowed in @ hotel. Scary!!!
SixStringSamurai213 (September 8, 2008 at 1:54 am)
I lived(and still do)in Fort Walton beach when Opal hit. Ill never forget when the eye came right over my house. It was beautiful and horrible at the same time. The only way I could describe it is nothingness. I stood outside seeing clear blue skies with a HUGE circle of clouds around. The only way I could describe it was nothingness. No birds, no noise, nothing. My hair literally stood up(dragonballz style). I will never forget it. We were without power for weeks(some months some years).
terry1919 (September 3, 2008 at 9:47 am)
I was in Montgomery AL when Opal hit...
by the time Opal reached Montgomery it was 10PM and the Airport recorded a 90MPH gust
by the time Opal reached Montgomery it was 10PM and the Airport recorded a 90MPH gust
jet7111 (September 1, 2008 at 1:12 am)
never forget that night for the rest of my life. we had to house in danger on in panama city and our own house in auburn, alabama. Going through that storm was personal hell
TheHulk850 (August 31, 2008 at 11:02 pm)
Boy howdy! I was stuck in that traffic jam with my golden retriever Jasper trying to evacuate.
n2motocross (August 31, 2008 at 3:15 pm)
Fantastic footage.. great job!
StarlightWildKoneko (August 24, 2008 at 7:48 pm)
A hurricane with my name...makes me wonder if I am like this when mad...frightening...
DTakersgurl (August 23, 2008 at 3:49 pm)
I was in that Hurricane. It scared the crap outta me. And I live 8 hours from the beach!
In Georgia!
it took the roof from my house. Thank God my family and I went to a shelter.
In Georgia!
it took the roof from my house. Thank God my family and I went to a shelter.
fwbrc51 (August 22, 2008 at 12:03 am)
great job with this video and the detailed info. i remember this storm but i evacuated with my family. i still remember business sign pieces significanly down the road from their origin and also all the boats that were tossed north of hwy 98 in the original outlet mall parking lot.
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