Alabama says it is still preparing for a 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff against Georgia on Saturday, even as the forecast for Tropical Storm Isaias continues to sharpen and the weather picture grows more complicated.
In a statement released Wednesday night, Alabama athletics said it is watching the storm closely and staying in contact with the National Weather Service, the Southeastern Conference and Georgia.
“Alabama athletics continues to closely monitor the weather forecast ahead of Saturday’s football game, with the safety and well-being of the student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans as our highest priority,” the statement from Alabama reads. “We remain in close communication with the National Weather Service, the Southeastern Conference Office and the University of Georgia as we observe conditions.
“At this time, kickoff remains scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday. We continue to encourage fans to rely on official Alabama athletics and SEC channels for the latest information regarding Saturday’s game.”
The National Weather Service in Birmingham said Wednesday afternoon that Isaias was sitting in the Southwestern Gulf around 4 p.m. CT and was expected to move toward the northern Gulf Coast this week. By late Wednesday, the forecast called for the storm to “intensify into a hurricane over the next 24 hours," per the NWS.
There are still some unknowns in the forecast, including the storm’s timing, strength and exact track. The Birmingham office said those details will keep getting refined as more information comes in.
“Some model uncertainties still exist regarding timing, intensity, and exact track, so refinements to the forecast will continue to be applied,” the NWS in Birmingham wrote. “Central Alabama effects will include heavy rainfall and gusty winds from Friday into Saturday.”
The NWS also urged people to keep checking official forecasts and to “start considering preparations for power outages and flooding.”
According to the Wednesday afternoon storm diagram from the National Weather Service, the system is projected to reach the Alabama coast by 1 a.m. Saturday and move into north Alabama by 1 p.m. Saturday.
No. 6 Alabama, 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the SEC, is scheduled to meet No. 2 Georgia, also 5-0 and 3-0, at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
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