Opal made its mark on United States hurricane history back in 1995 with itsCategory 3 landfall in the Florida Panhandle.In so doing, Opal joined ranks with the earlier October greats, Hazel andGladys.
Opal made landfall on Santa Rosa Island not far from Pensacola in the lateafternoon and early evening of Oct. 4. Highest sustained winds at the time were115 mph.
Opal had been a Category 4 hurricane with 150-mph highest sustained winds and a916 millibar central pressure earlier in the day.
Sweeping northward and away from the coast, Opal managed to cling to hurricanestatus through the morning of the 5th--nearly 12 hours--by which time the stormhad almost reached Tennessee. Thereafter, the downgraded Opal headed for theOhio River Valley and its ultimate breakup.
In its wake, Opal unleashed winds clocked at 144 mph in Fort Walton Beach.
Strands at Pensacola were heavily damaged by the storm surge and devastatingwinds.
Opal was a prolific rain maker. Near Brewton, Ala., the storm left nearly 20inches of rain in its wake. Ellyson, Fla., received 15.5 inches of rain.
In October 2005, another remarkable tropical cyclone, Wilma, entered the ranksof October hurricane greats when it became the most intense Atlantic hurricaneever measured.
