Highlights

Opal was a major (category 3 or higher) Atlantic hurricane of the 1995 season. It was the first major hurricane to strike the Florida Panhandle since 1975. Opal’s storm surge caused such extensive damage to Florida that it is ranked in the top ten of the costliest 20^th century hurricanes.

What to Observe

• Hurricane Opal
• Mid-latitude System 1
• Mid-latitude System 2
• Tropical System
• The ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone)

Status

• Approximately 49-56 hours prior to landfall
• Category 1 (Saffir-Simpson scale)