High Surf and Heavy Rain in Florida, October 28 to 30, 2007

The Flagler county EM reported the following rainfall totals since midnight of 2 to 5 inches across Flagler county. Some the highest amounts were 4.91 inches at the Flagler Emergency Operations Center in Bunnell and 5 inches in South Flagler Beach.

The Flagler Beach Fire Department reported breakers of 7-8 feet with some occasionally higher breakers around 10:29 am on 10/29. By 11:30 am, emergency management reported that the Flagler Beach pier was closed around 10 am due to high surf. Minor beach erosion began and the surf was around 6-7 feet. On 10/30, Flagler Beach reported surf of 6-7 feet. Later that day around 2:30 pm, water was over the seawall in Palm Coast. Around 3:05 pm, water was over the seawall by 6 inches in Palm Coast. Tides were running about 1 to 2 feet above predicted values. Around 2:28 pm on 10/29, moderate beach erosion was reported along the Flagler county coast. There were 6 dues closed on the north side and four on the side side of the county coast. Around 3 pm, tidal flooding at the county owned Princess Estates Preserve was reported. The campground along Pelicier Creek has tidal flooding in 3 campsites with water up to 2 feet deep. Tidal flooding was also observed on the Stiles Creek Causeway into the campground where standing water caused hazardous driving conditions which prompted the county to close campground temporarily. Around 330-345 pm on 10/30, high tides rose the water 1 inch from the top of the seawall along the inland Palm Coast salt water canal. Princess Estates Preserve Park was closed due to water from Stiles Creek which rose 3 inches from the main road going into the park. A few trees fell down across the county due to saturated grounds. One tree along Ballard Lane in Palm Coast fell on a parked vehicle (no injuries).

The Jacksonville Beach Life Guard Station reported breaker heights of 4-5 feet with some 6 foot breakers around 1029 am on 10/29. Around 11:54 am, the Mayport NOS tide gauge measured 6.82 ft MLLW which was 0.75 ft above predicted levels. At 1230 pm, ocean flooding produced 10-12 inches of water over campground sites at Talbot Island and a portion of Fort George was flooded. At 12:36 pm, the Fernandina Beach tide gauge measured 8.91 ft MLLW which was 1.41 ft above predicted levels. At 330 pm, the Jacksonville Beach Life Guards reported ocean water came through an adjacent beach access area to the Red Cross building and flooded portions of a parking lot. The guards also reported breakers of 5-8 ft with moderate to severe beach erosion. At 857 pm, Jacksonville Beach was closed where four boards designed to break away during high surf were knocked out, according to broadcast media. On 10/30, the Oak Landing tide gauge on the Intercoastal Waterway measured 4.4 ft above MLLW at 3:12 pm. Around 430 pm, water entered backyards near Oak Landing according to a NWS employee.

At Guana River State Park around 11:28 am on 10/29 the surf was around 8 ft. Around 11:30 am, rough waves and strong northeast winds sunk a boat at the harbor near the Bridge of Lions in downtown St. Augustine (no injuries). At noon, the back porch of a residence at 2561 South Ponte Vedra Blvd. was washed into the ocean. High surf and tides eroded about 12 feet of sand from this residence which was about 4 miles south of Guana River State Park. Stairs leading to the ocean nearby were washed away, and several backyards along the oceanfront were flooded. Minor street flooding was reported in Vilano Beach and many beach walkways were washed away. Around 6 pm, about 5 miles south of Guana River State Park, a home located at 2800 block of Ponte Vedra Beach Blvd. South was in danger of collapse due to coastal erosion. A 25-foot seawall had been built in front of the home a week prior, and the surf undermined the wall. About 3 to 7 feet of Ponte Vedra beach was eroded. Several roads had to be closed in St. Augustine due to flooding from the inlet which included Kings Street between Ponce De Leon Blvd. and Malaga Street. By 6 pm, high tides and 7-10 ft breakers produced severe beach erosion in the Summerhaven area north of Marineland. On 10/30 around 1:30 pm, the ocean reached the dunes about 3 miles south of Guana River State Park and was eroding the dune line. Several homes at 2855, 2859, and 2861 Ponte Vedra Blvd. South could have collapsed due to severe erosion. An empty lot at 2855 lost 10 feet of property between noon and 1:30 pm. Dirt was being dumped into the lot in an attempt to stabilize the properties on either side of it.

An NWS employee reported several inches of water covering the roads in downtown St. Augustine near Flagler College and St. George Street. About 3 inches of rainfall accumulated since midnight.

The Fernandina Beach NOS gauge reported 8.91 ft MLLW which was 1.41 ft above predicted tide.