Located just six miles west of downtown Mobile, the main campus of the University of South Alabama is in a highly recreational environment. The Gulf of Mexico with its beautiful, sandy beaches is less than one hour from Mobile; while Mobile Bay, a popular site for sailing enthusiasts, is only minutes from the campus. Numerous tennis and golf courses are nearby including the nationally recognized Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. The area is also well known for its many trees, colorful azaleas and floral displays highlighted by the internationally famous Bellingrath Gardens.

Mobile is also a major port and industrial center. The Alabama State Docks handles international shipping and also serves as the gateway to the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Major industrial plants are found in commercial parks south of the city, along the waterfront, and northward along the Mobile River. Industrial specialties include chemicals, oil and natural gas, pulp and paper, and shipbuilding and repair.

History abounds in the Port City. Reconstructed Fort Conde in the downtown area also serves as a museum with many artifacts and exhibits that display Mobile's colorful past. Mobile's participation in the Civil War is preserved at Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan at the entrance of Mobile Bay. In 1864, both the forts played a major role in the Battle of Mobile Bay as they defended the Port City from Union forces.

      
The meteorology program is located in the new Mitchell Center on the main campus. This spacious facility also consists of a 10,000-seat sports arena, conference rooms, athletic offices and training rooms. The meteorology program utilizes state-of-the-art facilities that include the Coastal Weather Research Center, a briefing and map room, a climate archive, a synoptic lab, a general classroom and lecture hall and several faculty offices.