Marine High Wind — North Mobile Bay, Gulf of Mexico

2013-04-03 · near Pinto Island, North Mobile Bay, Gulf of Mexico

Event narrative

Alabama State Docks Port of Mobile wind sensor measured a peak gust of 67 mph with sustained winds 50 to 60 mph. As the strong winds increased at the Port of Mobile, the Carnival Cuise Line vessel Triumph broke free of its moorings at the B.A.E Systems dock where it was under repair, then hit a nearby pier that had a guard shack and 2 men on it. The pier and guard shack was pushed into the Mobile River where they sank. One man in the guard shack was rescued and then hospitalized due to injuries, and the other man drowned. The Triumph continued across the Mobile River eventually colliding with a moored U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredge vessel. This collision caused substantial damage to the Triumph.

Wider weather episode

During the late morning and early afternoon hours on 3 April, strong winds developed in the wake of a passing area of heavy rainfall. This situation was due to the formation of a wake low pressure system that developed several miles to the west and behind the large area of heavy rainfall. A period of high winds of 40 to 50 mph with gusts to near 70 mph were reported across northern Mobile Bay and the Mobile River around the downtown Mobile area.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (30.6800, -88.0300)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 448122. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.