Flash Flooding in Florida, March 8, 1998

A slow moving complex weather system moved through southwest Alabama and northwest Florida on March 8, bringing with it copious amounts of rainfall. The Mobile WSR-88D estimated rainfall totals of six to ten inches across the area on March 8. Residents in north Santa Rosa and north Okaloosa counties estimated up to twelve inches of rain fell. The heavy rains began during the early morning hours in Escambia county and moved slowly east across Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties during the mid morning hours. The heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding across the area. The flooding began in Escambia county and then spread east across Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. Most secondary roads were completely washed out in these counties. Following are highlights of some of the damages in the affected counties:Escambia... Flooding was generally confined to the area along I-10 and north. Pensacola regional airport received about 6.5 inches of rainfall on March 7 and 8. Most of the dirt roads north of I-10 were completely washed out. Part of U S Highway 29 south of Century was closed for much of the day on Sunday because of high water. Most of the paved roads that had water on them had drained by Sunday evening. Residents say this was one of the worst floods they had seen. After the water drained, residents that lived along the Escambia River saw flooding for the next several days as the river rose to near its highest level ever, near Century. This forced people along the river to evacuate.Okaloosa...Most of the flooding took place along and north of I-10. Most of the dirt roads in the central and north parts of the county were washed out by the heavy rain. Many of the paved roads in the north part of the county remained closed until the evening of March 8, when the water finally receded. As with Escambia county, river flooding continued for another week. The Yellow river at Milligan reached a reading of 20.32 feet on March 10 which is second to the reading of 26.2 feet in 1929. Many homes along the river had to be evacuated. Persons living along the Shoal river were also forced to evacuate.Santa Rosa...Most of the dirt roads along and north of I-10 were washed out. Most were closed from Sunday morning until the evening of March 8. Many paved roads in the central and north part of the county were closed most of Sunday because of high water. River flooding began a few days later as residents who lived along the Yellow river were forced to evacuate. Persons along the Blackwater river in the Milton area were also forced to evacuate. Residents said this flood was comparable to the flood of 1990.