Florida, 2013Flash Flooding and Flooding in Florida, August 16 to 19, 2013
August 16 to 19, 2013 · NWS TAE · 22 events in 5 counties and zones
Another round of major flash flooding occurred across parts of northwest Florida during the middle of August as an upper level trough developed west of the area with a continuous moisture feed off of the Gulf of Mexico streaming northward into the area. This flooding hit many of the same areas impacted by the July flooding.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
Open the live radar over this ground
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $6.0 million
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 22
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.
Another round of major flash flooding occurred across parts of northwest Florida during the middle of August as an upper level trough developed west of the area with a continuous moisture feed off of the Gulf of Mexico streaming northward into the area. This flooding hit many of the same areas impacted by the July flooding.
What forecasters said that day
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 Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 16, 1:55 PM CST, 4 hours 5 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 16, 1:55 PM CST, 4 hours 5 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
355 PM EDT Fri Aug 16 2013
.NEAR TERM [Through Tonight]...
Model guidance has been in pretty good agreement about additional
shower and thunderstorm development late this afternoon across
Apalachee Bay and lifting northward into North Florida and South
Georgia and current radar trends seem to confirm this. The
widespread heavy rainfall looks to begin this period and continue
into Saturday. Initially the focus should be along the Florida Big
Bend Coast but then lift northwestward late tonight and into
Saturday. Rain chances have been increased to near 100 percent for
much of the forecast area overnight.
&&
.SHORT TERM [Saturday Through Sunday Night]...
Complex weather situation evolving across the region will lead to
periods of heavy rainfall through the weekend. By Saturday
morning, an anomalous upper low is forecast to be centered over
the bootheel of Missouri with a trough axis extending into the
northwestern Gulf of Mexico. A potent 90kt upper jet will round
the base of the trough during the day placing the area in the
favorable right entrance region. These features combined with a
feed of deep tropical moisture eminating from the southern Gulf
disturbance, and a lingering surface front, will set the stage for
potentially heavy rainfall. Latest guidance places the highest QPF
and highest PoPs over the northwestern half of the forecast area.
With many of these areas already saturated from a very wet summer,
flash flooding will continue to be a possibility. Will have
categorical PoPs for most of the area on Saturday with
temperatures well below normal. See the hydrology section of this
product for more details on the potential flooding impact.
While the corridor of heaviest rain is likely to slide westward on
Sunday, the Florida Panhandle and southeast Alabama will remain in
a favorable position to receive additional heavy rain. However, at
least high end scattered PoPs are anticipated over the remainder
of the forecast area.
&&
.LONG TERM [Monday through Friday]...
Upper trough over the Lower Mississippi Valley is forecast to
linger through the first half of next week keeping a moist and
unstable airmass in place over the tri-state area. This will keep
PoPs relatively high through at least Tuesday. By later in the
week, there is more uncertainty in the guidance as to how much
ridging will build back over the region, with the ECMWF keeping
the upper trough in tact and the GFS indicating a stronger ridge.
Being well into the extended, will keep conditions close to climo
as a compromise.
&&
.AVIATION [Through 18Z Saturday]...
Expect more numerous showers with isolated storms to affect the
TLH/VLD terminals late this evening and then spread toward the
other sites toward daybreak. Mainly MVFR conditions are expected
with IFR conditions likely occuring closer to daybreak Saturday as
the intensity of the rain increases. Should see some break in the
action at VLD and TLH late Saturday morning.
&&
.MARINE...
Winds and seas will be on the increase through the weekend,
especially over the western waters, as a trough of low pressure
lingers to the north and west. Conditions will occasionally reach
exercise caution levels through Sunday, with a brief period of
advisory conditions possible Saturday night. Winds and seas will
diminish early next week.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
No concerns.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
Tonight and Saturday the focus will largely be on the potential
for flash flooding due to already wet ground conditions. Much of
the shower activity today has been featuring rainfall rates of 2
to 3 inches per hour. Fortunately in most places these showers
have been progressive enough and not training which has kept the
flood threat low. This may cease to be the case late this evening
as the intensity and coverage of the showers increases. The
heaviest rains are expected on Saturday with widespread average
rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches still anticipated. Isolated
higher totals are expected, possibly upward of 7 to 10 inches in
some locations.
River flooding will become an increasing concern by late Saturday
and into next week, especially depending on where the heaviest
rainfall ends up occurring. The current thinking is that much of
the heaviest rains will occur in the lower half of the basins.
Thus, if the latest forecast holds, the Choctawhatchee Basin from
Geneva through Bruce would easily return to minor flood stage late
in the weekend with the potential for moderate flooding from
Caryville southward to Bruce early next week. The Chipola has some
capacity for heavy rainfall, but if rainfall amounts trend higher
than expected, minor flooding would be a possibility at Marianna
and Altha early next week.
Into Southeast Alabama, soils are especially saturated and area
creeks and stream will quickly respond to any significant
rainfall. Minor flooding along the Choctawhatchee and Pea Rivers
could occur quickly in this scenario late this weekend.
In Southern Georgia and the Florida Big Bend, current projections
move the Apalachicola, Flint, and Ochlockonee River systems to
near flood stage with anticipated rainfall, though heavier amounts
would easily lead to minor flooding, especially in the lower
portions of these basins where heavier rains were received in
July.
Lighter rainfall amounts are anticipated further east into the
Withlacoochee and Suwannee River basins and the current
anticipation is for these rivers to remain below flood stage into
next week.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Tallahassee 73 84 71 91 74 / 90 80 60 60 50
Panama City 77 83 75 88 77 / 90 90 60 60 50
Dothan 72 81 70 86 72 / 60 90 60 60 50
Albany 73 83 71 89 74 / 70 90 60 60 40
Valdosta 72 85 69 90 73 / 90 70 60 50 40
Cross City 74 86 72 91 73 / 80 60 40 50 50
Apalachicola 78 85 78 87 79 / 90 80 60 60 50
&&
.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...FLASH FLOOD WATCH through Saturday evening for Coastal Dixie-
Coastal Franklin-Coastal Jefferson-Coastal Taylor-Coastal
Wakulla-Gadsden-Inland Dixie-Inland Franklin-Inland
Jefferson-Inland Taylor-Inland Wakulla-Lafayette-Leon-
Liberty-Madison.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH through Sunday evening for Calhoun-Central
Walton-Coastal Bay-Coastal Gulf-Holmes-Inland Bay-Inland
Gulf-Inland Walton-Jackson-South Walton-Washington.
GA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH through Saturday evening for Baker-Ben Hill-
Berrien-Brooks-Calhoun-Clay-Colquitt-Cook-Decatur-
Dougherty-Early-Grady-Irwin-Lanier-Lee-Lowndes-Miller-
Mitchell-Quitman-Randolph-Seminole-Terrell-Thomas-Tift-
Turner-Worth.
AL...FLASH FLOOD WATCH through Sunday evening for Coffee-Dale-
Geneva-Henry-Houston.
GM...None.
&&
NEAR TERM...Godsey
SHORT TERM...Camp
LONG TERM...Camp
AVIATION...Godsey
MARINE...Camp
FIRE WEATHER...Godsey
HYDROLOGY...GodseyIn the hours before
Local storm report, Aug 16, 5:17 PM CST, 43 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
717 PM EDT FRI AUG 16 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0709 PM FLOOD 1 E NORMAN PARK 31.27N 83.67W
08/16/2013 COLQUITT GA LAW ENFORCEMENT
SOUTH HORNE STREET FLOODED IN NORMAN PARK. FLOOD WATERS
APPROACHING SEVERAL HOUSES IN THAT SAME AREA.
&&
BOLDENEvent by event
19 flash flood, 2 flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Flash Flood, Jackson
- When
- August 16, 6:00 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
- Where
- Jackson County, 4.29 mi S of Sills to 4.93 mi S of Sills
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 30.878, -85.277
Water was flowing over the road at Highway 162 and Bump Nose Road North of Marianna.
Flash Flood, Jackson
- When
- August 16, 6:00 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
- Where
- Jackson County, 1.71 mi E of Jacobs to 1.96 mi WNW of Greenwood
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 30.893, -85.361
County Road 162 was flooded and impassible in spots.
Flash Flood, Jackson
- When
- August 16, 6:00 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
- Where
- Jackson County, 0.91 mi NE of Sills to 1.11 mi ESE of Sills
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 30.950, -85.270
State Road 2 was flooded and impassible in spots.
Flash Flood, Jackson
- When
- August 16, 10:00 PM CST to August 17, 12:00 AM CST
- Where
- Jackson County, 1.42 mi WNW of Bascom to 1.12 mi SW of Bascom
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 30.931, -85.131
The public reported via social media that Georgia Road near Bascom had a large hole in it covered with water and that cars would likely get stuck if they attempted to go through it.
Flash Flood, Jackson
- When
- August 16, 11:30 PM CST to August 17, 1:30 AM CST
- Where
- Jackson County, 3.7 mi E of Kynesville to 3.58 mi S of Marianna
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 30.732, -85.288
Thompson Road to the east of County Road 167 was flooded.
Flash Flood, Bay
- When
- August 17, 11:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
- Where
- Bay County, 1.63 mi NNW of Vicksburg to 0.72 mi NNE of Vicksburg
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 30.340, -85.674
Road closed due to high water near the intersection of Highway 388 and 77.
Flash Flood, Bay
- When
- August 17, 12:15 PM CST to 4:30 PM CST
- Where
- Bay County, 1.06 mi ENE of Lynn Haven to 0.91 mi ENE of Lynn Haven
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 30.238, -85.625
The public reported via social media that access into the Derby Woods neighborhood was flooded and passable only by truck.
Flash Flood, Bay
- When
- August 17, 12:15 PM CST to 4:30 PM CST
- Where
- Bay County, 1.69 mi N of Lynn Haven to 1.14 mi N of Lynn Haven
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 30.254, -85.644
The public reported via social media that Minnesota Ave was under a foot of water.
Flash Flood, Bay
- When
- August 17, 1:15 PM CST to 4:30 PM CST
- Where
- Bay County, 0.69 mi N of Southport to 0.26 mi SW of Resota Beach
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 30.290, -85.640
The public reported via social media that the intersection of Highway 77 and Deerpoint was completely underwater in the Southport area. The flooding was reported to be similar to the July 4th flooding at that location.
Flash Flood, Bay
- When
- August 17, 2:15 PM CST to 4:30 PM CST
- Where
- Bay County, 1.74 mi ESE of Springfield to 2.99 mi ESE of Springfield
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 30.152, -85.572
The public reported via social media that Highway 22 East in Callaway was underwater.
Flash Flood, Bay
- When
- August 17, 2:15 PM CST to 10:30 PM CST
- Where
- Bay County, 0.64 mi E of Bahama Beach to 0.74 mi E of Panama City Beach
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 30.192, -85.829
The public reported via social media that Alf Coleman Road was underwater and impassible to small cars.
Flash Flood, Bay
- When
- August 17, 3:30 PM CST to 4:30 PM CST
- Where
- Bay County, 1.4 mi WSW of Lynn Haven to 1.57 mi SW of Lynn Haven
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 30.220, -85.660
The public uploaded a picture to social media of approximately 3 feet of standing water near the Lynn Village Apartments as well as a pickup that was flooded out. Monetary damage was estimated.
Flood, Walton
- When
- August 18, 10:20 AM CST to August 19, 10:20 AM CST
- Where
- Walton County, 0.6 mi W of Blue Mountain Beach to 0.2 mi W of Blue Mountain Beach
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $500,000
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 30.340, -86.200
Highway 30A partially collapsed on the north side over Big Red Fish Lake due to recent heavy rainfall combined with heavy rainfall in July. Monetary damage was estimated.
Thunderstorm Wind, Walton
- When
- August 18, 1:03 PM CST
- Where
- Walton County, 2.56 mi E of Santa Rosa Beach
- Measured
- 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 30.382, -86.177
A 62 mph wind gust was measured by a trained spotter near Highway 331 on the southern portion of Choctawhatchee Bay.
Flash Flood, Walton
- When
- August 18, 2:00 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
- Where
- Walton County, 2.91 mi E of Santa Rosa Beach to 0.56 mi WNW of Point Washington
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 30.380, -86.171
Water was reported over numerous south Walton county roads per the Walton Alert Facebook page. Some roads were under more than a foot of water in developed areas near the coast with water washing up close to some homes on secondary roads.
Flash Flood, Washington
- When
- August 18, 2:00 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
- Where
- Washington County, 2.59 mi SSW of Whitehead Crossroads to 1.77 mi SW of Sunny Hills
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $5.0 million
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 30.669, -85.784
Heavy rainfall caused widespread flash flooding with impacts mainly to roads across Washington county. Numerous dirt roads were damaged and some homes may have been affected by water. Monetary damage was estimated.
Flood, Walton
- When
- August 18, 2:00 PM CST to August 19, 2:00 PM CST
- Where
- Walton County, 2.38 mi W of Eucheeanna to 2.42 mi W of Eucheeanna
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $500,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 30.640, -86.080
Due to recent heavy rainfall and increased water flow on Bruce Creek, the bridge at Indian Creek Ranch Road has been displaced. Monetary damage was estimated.
Flash Flood, Walton
- When
- August 18, 3:00 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
- Where
- Walton County, 1.83 mi E of Portland to 2.18 mi NNE of Freeport
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 30.514, -86.160
Water was reported on or running over about 10 area roads near Freeport per the Walton Alert Facebook page.
Flash Flood, Bay
- When
- August 18, 3:15 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
- Where
- Bay County, 0.49 mi ENE of Bid-A-Wee to 0.49 mi SSE of Panama City Beach
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 30.202, -85.842
Flooding impacted Beach Elementary School per WJHG-TV.
Flash Flood, Washington
- When
- August 18, 3:30 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
- Where
- Washington County, 1.22 mi SSW of Crow to 0.99 mi WSW of Crow
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 30.735, -85.560
Water over State Highway 77 just south of I-10 at Blue Lake resulted in the closure of the highway.
Flash Flood, Leon
- When
- August 19, 10:30 PM EST to 11:15 PM EST
- Where
- Leon County, 0.2 mi SSW of Maclay Gardens to 0.88 mi NW of Bradfordville
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 30.517, -84.251
Flowing water was reported at numerous locations along Thomasville Road. Rainfall amounts ranged bewteen 1.75-2.00 in 1 hour.
Flash Flood, Leon
- When
- August 19, 10:45 PM EST to 11:15 PM EST
- Where
- Leon County, 0.15 mi N of Lake Ella to 0.24 mi N of Lake Ella
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 30.462, -84.270
Gwen Street was flooded near the intersection of Pine and Thomasville Roads.
- Flash Flood
- Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
- Flood
- Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Damaging Winds in Texas, August 16, 2013$167,000 · 61 kt wind · 9 events
- Flash Flooding in Georgia, August 16, 2013$20,000 · 3 events
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Georgia, August 16 to 21, 2013$6,000 · 50 kt wind · 11 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Oregon, August 16, 20131.5 in hail · 7 events
- Heavy Rain in Texas, August 16, 20135 events
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Gulf of Mexico, August 16 to 17, 20135 events
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Gulf of Mexico, August 16, 20134 events
- Flood and Hail in Texas, August 16, 20131 in hail · 3 events
- Damaging Winds in Texas, August 16, 2013$9,000 · 52 kt wind · 3 events
- Hail in Texas, August 16, 20131.75 in hail · 1 event
- Flash Flood in Georgia, August 16, 2013$5,000 · 1 event
- Wildfire in Oregon, August 16 to 31, 20131 event
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: 475856, 475857, 475858, 475859, 475860, 475881, 475861, 475862, 475863, 475864, 475865, 475866, 475877, 475685, 475869, 475870, 475878, 475871, 475872, 475873, 475874, 475875.