Florida, 2016

Flooding in Florida, April 2 to 4, 2016

April 2 to 4, 2016 · NWS TAE · 6 events in 5 counties and zones

Heavy rainfall amounts at the end of March into the first part of April led to some flooding across portions northwest Florida with impacts mainly to roads in Leon, Jackson, Walton, Washington, and Holmes counties.

Where it happened

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

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$15,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS TAE wrote it up.

Heavy rainfall amounts at the end of March into the first part of April led to some flooding across portions northwest Florida with impacts mainly to roads in Leon, Jackson, Walton, Washington, and Holmes counties.

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 Apr 1, 8:16 PM EST, 3 hours 44 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 1, 8:16 PM EST, 3 hours 44 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
916 PM EDT FRI APR 1 2016

.Near Term [Through Tonight]...

The afternoon forecast remains on track this evening. The first
batch of rain continues to slowly move east. A second line of
thunderstorms is moving into the western Panhandle. The tornado
watch has been extended until 4am EDT/ 3am CDT. We have also seen
some very heavy rain over the panhandle with instantaneous rates
up to 6 inches per hour. The flash flood watch continues until 8am
EDT/ 7am CDT.

&&

.Prev Discussion [812 PM EDT]...

.Short Term [Saturday Through Sunday Night]...

Most models have the cold front sweeping clear of the area quite
early in the morning, with chances of rain quickly diminishing.
Given that there has been a southeastward bias in model precip
forecasts thus far today, we did not clear rain out as fast as
some models indicate on Saturday, but the heaviest rain rates
associated with thunderstorms should be mostly clear of our area
by 15Z. In the wake of the front, slightly cooler and drier
conditions are expected with highs in the low-mid 70s and lows in
the upper 40s.

.Long Term [Monday Through Friday]...

Early in the week northwesterly flow will develop aloft due to the
upper trough axis along the eastern seaboard. This is expected
to lead to drier and more seasonable conditions through the first
half of the work week. Highs are expected in the upper 70s and
lows are expected in the upper 40s and lower 50s through
Wednesday. Another cold front is expected to rapidly pass through
the area on Thursday. Winds will gain a southerly component ahead
of the front, bringing humid from the Gulf of Mexico air into the
area. There will also be a chance of showers and the possibility
of a few thunderstorms associated with this front. After the front
passes, there should again be northwesterly flow promoting drier
and cooler conditions.

.Aviation...
[Through 00Z Sunday]...

Expect mostly IFR CIGs overnight as rain continues throughout the
night. A few pockets of LIFR CIGs are possible particularly in the
Panhandle Florida and Southeast Alabama. Some thunder is possible
particularly before midnight. Rain will move out from west to east
in the morning hours as a cold front moves through. VFR conditions
will likely return by late morning.

.Marine...

We issued a Small Craft Advisory for areas west of Apalachicola
from later tonight through Saturday morning. Model forecast wind
speeds were close to 20 knots in those areas. After a brief lull
during the afternoon in which northwest winds should be around 15
knots over most of the coastal waters, the winds will veer
slightly to the north and increase to advisory levels again on
Saturday Night. An advisory has not been issued for that timeframe
quite yet. After that, winds and seas should quickly subside as
high pressure builds into the region.

.Fire Weather...

Widespread showers and thunderstorms will further wet fuels.
Therefore, even though much drier air will arrive so a few days
starting Sunday, red flag criteria will not be threatened.

.Hydrology...

Local rivers are rising as heavy rain moves into the region. Most
area rivers were already high with the exception of the
Suwannee. Flooding is occurring on the Ochlockonee, Apalachicola,
Withlacoochee, and Choctawhatchee Rivers in Florida. Most rivers
will continue to rise this weekend and early next week. The
Kinchafoonee Creek and the Chipola River need to be monitored and
a warning may be issued later.

Several inches of rain has already fallen over Southeast Alabama
today. Light to moderate rain will continue to soak the region this
evening and overnight with heavy rain possible within thunderstorms.
Expect another two to four inches of rain with higher amounts in
thunderstorms.

The Flash Flood Watch remains in place for most of the region
through Saturday morning.

&&

.Preliminary Point Temps/PoPs...

Tallahassee   65  74  48  73  48 /  90  50   0   0   0
Panama City   61  70  52  70  54 / 100  40   0   0   0
Dothan        56  69  46  70  47 /  90  10   0   0   0
Albany        59  70  46  70  45 /  90  20   0   0   0
Valdosta      66  73  48  72  47 /  90  60   0   0   0
Cross City    70  77  49  75  49 /  50  80  10   0   0
Apalachicola  65  73  51  71  54 /  80  60   0   0   0

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Flash Flood Watch until 8 AM EDT /7 AM CDT/ Saturday FOR Calhoun-
     Central Walton-Coastal Bay-Coastal Franklin-Coastal Gulf-
     Coastal Jefferson-Coastal Wakulla-Gadsden-Holmes-Inland Bay-
     Inland Franklin-Inland Gulf-Inland Jefferson-Inland Wakulla-
     Jackson-Leon-Liberty-North Walton-South Walton-Washington.

     High Rip Current Risk until 8 AM EDT /7 AM CDT/ Saturday FOR
     Coastal Bay-Coastal Franklin-Coastal Gulf-South Walton.

GA...Flash Flood Watch until 8 AM EDT Saturday FOR Baker-Ben Hill-
     Berrien-Brooks-Calhoun-Clay-Colquitt-Cook-Decatur-Dougherty-
     Early-Grady-Irwin-Lee-Miller-Mitchell-Quitman-Randolph-
     Seminole-Terrell-Thomas-Tift-Turner-Worth.

AL...Flash Flood Watch until 7 AM CDT Saturday FOR Coffee-Dale-Geneva-
     Henry-Houston.

GM...Small Craft Advisory from 2 AM to 2 PM EDT Saturday FOR Coastal
     waters from Apalachicola to Destin FL out 20 NM-Waters from
     Apalachicola to Destin FL from 20 to 60 NM.

&&

NEAR TERM...WESTON
SHORT TERM...LAMERS
LONG TERM...LAMERS/KING
AVIATION...MCDERMOTT
MARINE...LAMERS
FIRE WEATHER...WOOL
HYDROLOGY...MCDERMOTT

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Leon

When
April 2, 12:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where
Leon County, 3.82 mi SSE of Chaires Crossing to 3.67 mi SSE of Chaires Crossing
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
30.371, -84.080

Tram road washed out near the Leon and Jefferson county border on the Leon county side.

Flood, Holmes

When
April 2, 12:00 AM CST to April 4, 12:00 AM CST
Where
Holmes County, 2.74 mi WNW of Royals Crossroads to 5.98 mi ENE of Cobb Crossroads
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
30.990, -86.030

Areal flooding occurred in Holmes county due to moderate to heavy rainfall in late March into early April. Some roads that were closed included but may not be limited to Spring Valley Rd at the creek, Howell Williams Rd at the creek, Bonifay-Chipley Rd, Horseshoe Loop, Old Mill Rd, Francis Ln, Landing Cove, Blue Springs Rd, and Bear Hewett Landing. This road information was posted on the Holmes County Emergency Management facebook page.

Flood, Washington

When
April 2, 12:00 AM CST to April 4, 12:00 AM CST
Where
Washington County, 0.38 mi ESE of Live Oak to 1.13 mi SSE of Holmes Valley
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
30.568, -85.854

Scattered pockets of flooding resulted from a build-up of moderate to heavy rainfall from late March through early April. Some roads were closed and included but may not be limited to the south end of Summerhouse Rd, Island Ave from Summerhouse to Treasure Terrace, Bream Blvd, Odom Rd off Highway 90, and Old Bonifay Rd at Holmes/Washington County line. This information was posted on the Washington County Emergency Management facebook page.

Flood, Jackson

When
April 2, 12:00 AM CST to April 4, 12:00 AM CST
Where
Jackson County, 2.74 mi WNW of Browntown to 5.93 mi N of Hornsville
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
31.000, -85.500

Flooding from persistent moderate to heavy rainfall in late March into early April resulted in numerous road closures across the county. Some roads included but may not be limited to Christoff Ferry Ln, Holyneck Rd, Stadsklev Rd, Iron Bridge Rd, Stone Rd, Dean Rd, Pittman Hill, Swails Rd, Jerusalem Church Rd, Dry Creek Rd, Gilley Rd, Pooser Rd, Sandridge Church Rd, New Bridge Rd, Chason Rd, Old US Rd, and Fairview Rd.

Flood, Walton

When
April 2, 12:00 AM CST to April 4, 12:00 AM CST
Where
Walton County, 3.61 mi NW of Clear Springs to 0.6 mi N of Darlington
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
31.000, -86.390

Several roads were flooded due to persistent moderate to heavy rainfall. In addition, a small earthen dam was breached which resulted in damage to County Highway 3280. The following roads were closed: Natural Bridge Rd, Woods Rd, Indian Creek Ranch Rd, River Rd, Earl Godwin Rd, and County Highway 3280. This information was posted on the Walton County Emergency Management facebook page. Damage to County Highway 3280 was estimated.

Flood, Leon

When
April 2, 1:05 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Leon County, 0.85 mi NNW of Macon Community Park to 0.93 mi NNW of Macon Community Park
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
30.502, -84.275

Flooding occurred near Meridian Road and Cloverdale Road. A minivan drove into the water and become disabled. There were no injuries.

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Florida in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, April 2016

Sources

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: 620636, 624273, 624275, 624281, 624284, 620635.