Strong rip currents along the Florida Panhandle beaches cause drowning deaths along Okaloosa County beaches in the Destin area.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS MOB wrote it up.
Strong rip currents along the Florida Panhandle beaches cause drowning deaths along Okaloosa County beaches in the Destin area.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Mobile, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 10, 2:27 PM CST, 1 hour 33 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 327 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009 CORRECTED TO REMOVE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM WWA SECTION BELOW ...INTERIOR COUNTIES NORTH OF HIGHWAY 84 URGED TO MONITOR POTENTIAL RAPIDLY DEVELOPING SEVERE THUNDERSTORM SITUATION THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS... .SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT AND SATURDAY)...DO EXPECT SOME ISOLATED SEVERE DEEP CONVECTION TO DEVELOP JUST NW OF OUR ZONES AND QUICKLY FORM INTO A W-E ORIENTED LINE THAT WILL SLOWLY SINK SOUTH AS INDIVIDUAL CELLS MOVES EAST ALONG THE LINE LATER THIS AFTERNOON (5-7 PM INITIATION TIME). THE 10.15Z WRF HAS A GOOD HANDLE ON THIS SCENARIO. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS ARE THE MAIN THREAT WITH TORNADOES ALSO POSSIBLE AS A SECONDARY THREAT (SEE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION). THIS ALL HAPPENS AS 80KT 500 HPA JETLET ROUNDS BASE OF UPPER TROF. ONCE THIS HAPPENS SFC FRONT THEN MOVES SOUTH IN EARNEST TO MOVE THROUGH ENTIRE AREA BY 15Z SAT (INCLUDING FAR S PORTION OF COASTAL ZONES). GREATEST RAIN CHANCES ARE OVER FAR INLAND SW AND SOUTH CENTRAL AL THIS EVENING AND WILL NO HIGHER THAN 30 PERCENT. NOT MUCH FAITH ON ANY PCPN SOUTH OF HIWAY 84 PER PREVIOUS DSCN. ON SATURDAY...NOSE OF SFC HIPRES BUILDS IN FROM N AS CENTER OF HIGH MOVES ACROSS GRTLKS. THIS ORIENTATION ALLOWS COLD FRONT TO BECOME STATIONARY NOT TOO FAR SOUTH IN OUR COASTAL WATERS...WHEN RETURN FLOW RESUMES EARLY SUNDAY. NOT MANY DEPARTURES FROM MAV MOS GUIDANCE ON TEMPS (PSU EYEWALL SITE D(PROG)/DT HOLDS STEADY). /23 .LONG TERM...(SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY)...YET ANOTHER SFC LOW DEVELOPS IN SRN PLAINS AND LIFTS NEWD INTO WRN TN VLY EASTER SUNDAY. UPPER PORTION OF SYSTEM HAS PROLIFIC NEG-TILT ORIENTATION AND NOTABLE DOWNSTREAM DIFFLUENCE OVER OUR REGION BY MIDNIGHT. 35-50 850 HPA JET AXIS LOCATED OVER OUR WRN ZONES AT THIS TIME WITH SFC EQ POT TEMP VALUES APPROACHING 330K. SYSTEM IS PROGRESSIVE AS IT MOVES THROUGH ON MONDAY AND JET DYNAMICS BEGINS TO EXIT BY 14.06Z TUE. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND SEVERE TSTMS WILL BOTH BE POTENTIAL THREATS WITH THIS SYSTEM AS IT MOVES THROUGH LATE SUNDAY AND INTO MONDAY. IF SYSTEM SLOWS SUCH THAT PASSAGE OF MAIN DYNAMICS IS DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS ON MONDAY VERSUS SUNDAY NIGHT...THIS WOULD INCREASE SEVERE TSTM POTENTIAL EVEN MORE. SFC FRONTAL PASSAGE LAGS UPPER SYSTEM INTO TUESDAY DAYTIME HOURS WHERE RAIN CHANCES WILL DECREASE IN A W->E FASHION DURING THE DAY. UPPER FLOW BECOMES ZONAL ONCE AGAIN. (WEDNESDAY-> NEXT FRIDAY)...DRY SFC HIGH PRESSURE ON BOTH WED AND THU...WITH YET A THIRD ECS DEVELOPING OVER LWR MS VLY LATE THURSDAY. OF COURSE... CLOUDS INCREASE FROM THE SW AND RAIN CHANCES ALSO FOR NEXT FRIDAY AS THE SYNOP PATTERN LOOKS THE SAME AS THE LAST TEN OR SO SYSTEMS WE'VE EXPERIENCED AS OF LATE. /23 && .AVIATION...[18Z ISSUANCE]...CAN EXPECT INSTANCES OF MVFR CIGS THROUGH 00Z WITH GUSTY WINDS MORE OF AN IMPACT ON APPROACHES AND ASCENTS. HIGHER CHANCES OF TSTMS...SOME SEVERE...MORE TO THE NORTH AND NORTHEAST OF THE COASTAL TERMINALS. LOW STRATUS AOB 1500 FEET POSSIBLE AFT 06Z. WIND SHIFT AFT 10Z WITH FRONT SINKING INTO THE NORTHERN GULF. /10 && .MARINE...WIND FIELD IS FORECAST TO LOWER AS FRONT SINKS INTO THE AREA TONIGHT. WINDS AND SEAS LOOK TO BE BELOW ADVISORY CRITERIA AND WILL LOWER THE ONE WE HAD OUT EARLIER FOR THE 20 TO 60 NM ZONES. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE SOUTHEAST BY SUNDAY...WITH YET ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM FORECAST TO FORM OVER NORTHEAST TEXAS. THIS LOW LIFTS NORTHEAST EARLY NEXT WEEK...ALLOWING A FRONT TO SINK INTO THE EASTERN GULF BY TUESDAY. AHEAD OF THE LOW...A STRENGTHENING SOUTHERLY FETCH LATE SUNDAY WILL ALLOW SEAS TO TREND HIGHER LATE SUNDAY INTO EARLY MONDAY ALONG WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS RETURNING TO THE FORECAST. AN INCREASED RISK OF RIP CURRENTS IS ALSO POSSIBLE EARLY NEXT WEEK DUE TO FORECAST TIDAL RANGES OF 1 TO 1.5 FEET AND MODERATE/STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS IMPINGING ON THE COASTLINE. OUTSIDE OF SLIGHT ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SEAS IN THE EXTENDED RANGE...MADE NO OTHER CHANGES. /10 && .FIRE WEATHER...NO CONCERNS. MINIMUM AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITIES TO REMAIN ABOVE THE CRITICAL 35% THRESHOLD NEXT TWO AFTERNOONS. /23 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... MOBILE 60 77 59 76 / 10 05 20 40 PENSACOLA 62 79 61 76 / 10 05 10 30 DESTIN 64 76 64 73 / 10 10 05 30 EVERGREEN 57 76 52 79 / 30 05 05 30 WAYNESBORO 52 77 50 76 / 10 05 05 50 CAMDEN 53 76 51 78 / 30 05 05 30 && .MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. FL...NONE. MS...NONE. GM...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 225 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009 ALZ051>064-FLZ001>006-GMZ630-650-655-670-675-MSZ067-075-076-078- 079-111900- CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW- ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE- LOWER BALDWIN-INLAND ESCAMBIA-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-INLAND SANTA ROSA- COASTAL SANTA ROSA-INLAND OKALOOSA-COASTAL OKALOOSA-MOBILE BAY- COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS FROM 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM-WAYNE-PERRY- GREENE-STONE-GEORGE- 225 PM CDT FRI APR 10 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA...SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...THE COASTAL WATERS OF ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA...NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... ...A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER EXISTS THIS AFTERNOON FOR PORTIONS OF THE INTERIOR GULF COAST... STRONG SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL PERSIST OVER THE COASTAL WATERS OF ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA THROUGH TONIGHT...CREATING HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR SMALL CRAFT INTO TONIGHT. AREA BEACH OFFICIALS REPORT DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS IN WHICH THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS. AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY AND SOUTHERN STATES...THE AIRMASS IS FORECAST TO REMAIN UNSTABLE. ALTHOUGH FORECASTERS ANTICIPATE ISOLATED TO SCATTERED COVERAGES OF THUNDERSTORMS...AN ASSESSMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE...WIND AND MOISTURE SUGGESTS THAT THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR STORMS TO INTENSIFY QUICKLY TO SEVERE LEVELS. AT THIS TIME...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LOOK TO BE MORE FAVORED MAINLY NORTH AND NORTHEAST OF THE ALABAMA AND WESTERN FLORIDA COASTAL COUNTIES. THE MAIN THREATS IN SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON WILL BE LARGE HAIL...GREATER THAN ONE INCH IN DIAMETER ALONG WITH DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THE ATMOSPHERE ALSO FAVORS THE FORMATION OF ISOLATED...POTENTIALLY LONG TRACK TORNADOES. RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO ENSURE THAT WEATHER RADIOS ARE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER AND THAT THEY ARE SET TO TONE ALERT IN THE EVENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE ISSUED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY A STRONG SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL DEVELOP AGAIN SUNDAY AHEAD OF ANOTHER SYSTEM EXPECTED TO PASS NORTH OF THE AREA MONDAY INTO MONDAY NIGHT...AGAIN CREATING HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR SMALL CRAFT ON ALABAMA AND WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE COASTAL WATERS. A MODERATE TO HIGH RISK OF DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS IS ALSO POSSIBLE. ENOUGH INSTABILITY WILL BE IN PLACE FOR A FEW STORMS TO BECOME STRONG TO POSSIBLY SEVERE BY MONDAY AS NEXT FRONT PUSHES INTO THE REGION. THUNDERSTORMS WILL AGAIN BE POSSIBLE BY LATE WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING OVER THE INTERIOR OF THE NORTH CENTRAL GULF COAST.
2 rip current. Local standard time, as filed.
Joseph Jones, a 39 year old from Riverdale, Georgia, was pronounced dead at the hospital after being caught in a strong rip current at Destin Beach around 5 PM CDT. He entered the surf to help two young girls that were caught in the rip current.
Airman First Class Josh Roussell of the 46th Test Wing on Eglin Air Force Base died shortly after 6 PM CDT after he was pulled out in a rip current while playing football in waist-deep water with his brother-in-law.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rip Current, Coastal Okaloosa | 2009-04-10 | 39 | Male | In Water | Direct |
| Rip Current, Coastal Okaloosa | 2009-04-11 | Male | In Water | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, April 2009
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 200126, 200127.