The National Weather Service issued an extreme wind warning for more than 500,000 people in the western Panhandle, warning of potential sustained winds of 115 mph. Thousands of residents were already without power and storm surge was reaching the coast. Flash flooding was possible between Pensacola and Panama City.
Offshore operators halted about 1.46 million BPD of oil production, or 71.5% of US Gulf of Mexico output, and about 59% of regional natural gas production. The shutdowns were lifting Gulf Coast crude prices. Nearly 500,000 BPD of refining capacity also sat in the storm’s projected path, including Chevron’s Pascagoula plant and Vertex’s Mobile refinery.