A weak area of low pressure moved slowly across the northeast Gulf states. A tropical airmass was in place for several days, which aided in heavy rainfall amounts across the area.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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 TAE wrote it up.
A weak area of low pressure moved slowly across the northeast Gulf states. A tropical airmass was in place for several days, which aided in heavy rainfall amounts across the area. The heaviest rainfall fell across Taylor, Lafayette, and Dixie counties with a large area of 10-15 inches over a 4 day period. Some isolated locations in southern Lafayette county saw greater than 15 inches. This led to flooding in the area, including the Steinhatchee River, which crested in the moderate flood category. Elsewhere, amounts generally ranged from 5-10 inches along the remainder of the coast and 1-5 inches inland with isolated areas of flooding reported.
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 6, 5:54 PM CST, 9 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
754 PM EDT SAT AUG 6 2016
.AVIATION [Through 00Z Monday]...
Convection across the area is beginning to decrease with the loss
of daytime heating. TSRA remains around ECP at this time and for
the next 30-60 mins. VFR should reign through much of the
overnight period. ABY and VLD show signs of IFR Cig/Vsbys 8-14Z.
Other terminals will remain VFR through this time. Another day of
convection is expected Sunday. Better prob of TSRA at TLH and ECP
with slightly lower confidence elsewhere. Tempo MVFR Cig/Vsbys
underneath any heavier SHRA/TSRA.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION [408 PM EDT]...
.NEAR TERM [Through Tonight]...
Observational data continue to show that a broad weak area of low
pressure has remained nearly stationary across Apalachee Bay
this afternoon. While convection has generally decreased this
afternoon, hi-res guidance suggests redevelopment is likely
tonight to the south of the low pressure area, affecting coastal
areas of Dixie County and possibly moving a little further inland.
Rainfall prior to daybreak could be locally heavy, and a flood
watch is now in effect for this area.
Elsewhere, a drier mid level airmass has moved into the northern
portion of our region and this has limited thunderstorm
development this afternoon. As a result, expect only isolated
coverage of storms this evening with any convection across Srn
Alabama and Southwestern Georgia ending before midnight. Also
expect patchy fog across Srn Alabama and Southwestern Georgia
before sunrise, much like on Saturday morning.
.SHORT TERM [Sunday Through Monday Night]...
Confidence remains high in a prolonged period of wet weather
across the region in association with a slow moving area of low
pressure. The airmass will remain very tropical with PWAT values
well over 2 inches. Given the tropical airmass in place, all
storms will be very efficient rainfall producers introducing the
threat for flooding across the area. Through Monday night, the
main focus for heavy rainfall and potential will be across the
southeast big bend area. A flood watch has been posted for Taylor
and Dixie counties, and this could be expanded with subsequent
forecasts as confidence continues to increase and the threat
timing gets closer. Greater than 6 inches of rain is expected
through Monday night across the watch area.
.LONG TERM [Tuesday Through Saturday]...
The focus for heavy rainfall and flooding will gradually shift
westward through the week. The 12z Euro remains fairly consistent
with previous runs in showing huge totals across the Florida
panhandle. The large scale environment is expected to be favorable
for heavy rainfall across the region with very high PWAT values in
place and a slow moving area of low pressure. The official
forecast is very close to the WPC forecast once again, and is
higher compared to yesterday's forecast with storm total amounts
over 11 inches possible along the coast from Dixie county all the
way to Walton county. Lesser but still significant amounts are
expected further inland. Flooding will be a concern through most
of the week if this forecast pans out.
.MARINE...
Conditions will be deteriorating over the next several days as an
area of low pressure moves slowly across the area. Winds are
expected to increase to near 20 knots by early next week with seas
building as well. Small craft advisory conditions are possible.
Winds and seas may stay elevated through much of the week
depending on how slowly the area of low pressure moves.
.FIRE WEATHER...
A wet period featuring above normal chances for showers and
thunderstorms each day is expected. RH values will be above
critical thresholds and ERC values will be low, therefore, no
fire weather concerns are expected through the end of the next
work week.
.HYDROLOGY...
A persistent wet period looks to be starting across the region in
association with a weak low pressure area over the Northeastern
Gulf of Mexico. Regardless of any tropical development, this
system will remain nearly stationary through the weekend and then
move very slowly westward through the middle of next week. As a
result, periods of heavy rainfall are possible across the region,
with the heaviest amounts anticipated nearer to the coast.
Through Monday Evening, the heaviest amounts will be more likely
near the Southeast Florida Big Bend coastal areas, where 6-10
inches of rain is possible, with isolated heavier totals
possible. Potential concerns in this area would be steady rises on
the Steinhatchee and Econfina Rivers.
After Monday evening, the threat for heavy rainfall will spread
westward to include the remainder of the Florida Panhandle. At this
time, guidance suggests the heaviest rain will remain nearer to the
coast. Depending on where the heaviest rain sets up, there could be
flash flooding concerns, particularly in the urban areas of the
Florida Panhandle.
Storm total amounts through Friday could potentially exceed 11
inches in some places along the Gulf Coast. Further inland, rainfall
amounts should be less, generally in the 4 to 6 inch range over this
time period. Placement of the heavier rainfall in the longer term
will have a big impact on potential river flooding.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Tallahassee 76 92 76 88 76 / 20 60 50 70 50
Panama City 80 90 79 87 79 / 20 50 50 80 60
Dothan 75 93 74 89 74 / 20 50 50 70 40
Albany 75 93 75 90 74 / 20 50 40 70 40
Valdosta 74 90 73 88 73 / 20 50 40 70 50
Cross City 74 85 74 85 74 / 90 80 70 80 60
Apalachicola 78 88 78 86 77 / 40 50 50 80 70
&&
.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Flood Watch through Tuesday morning for Coastal Dixie-Coastal
Taylor-Inland Dixie-Inland Taylor.
High Rip Current Risk until 7 PM CDT this evening for South
Walton.
GA...None.
AL...None.
GM...None.
&&
NEAR TERM...Godsey
SHORT TERM...DVD
LONG TERM...DVD
AVIATION...Scholl
MARINE...DVD
FIRE WEATHER...Scholl
HYDROLOGY...GodseyThe Eglin Afb radar (KEVX), 23 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:02 UTC.
8 flood, 6 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A large tree branch was snapped and fell on a power line along Coy Burgess Loop, causing the power line to come down.
The Perry dispatch reported numerous reports of flooding and road closures in and around the Perry area.
The LA Bennett Grade Bridge was closed due to flooding.
Video on social media showed Pine Crest Street in Perry flooded with significant standing water and barricades in place.
Southeast Yorkshire Road and Southeast Wolf Road were underwater and closed.
Several streets were flooded and closed during a period of heavy rainfall, including South Blvd, 4th Street, 5th Street, and North Railroad Ave. There was minor structural flooding as well in Chipley. The water receded about an hour after the rain ended.
The Florida Highway Patrol reported that Griffin Road at U.S. Highway 90 was closed due to flooding.
The Florida Highway Patrol reported a road closure due to flooding at Highway 273 and Pleas Circle.
SE L A Bennett Road was flooded and closed.
SE Brushy Hammock Road was flooded and closed.
Roads in Horseshoe Beach were flooded as well as Horseshoe Road. This report was relayed through the local newspaper's facebook page.
A couple of inches of water was reported to be intruding into a home. Damage was estimated.
Water was reported to be intruding into a home.
There were numerous reports of roadway flooding in the Panama City area with some closed.
Weems Road was closed due to water flowing over the road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, August 2016
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: 642479, 648096, 648099, 648100, 648101, 648110, 648111, 648112, 648102, 648103, 648113, 648104, 648105, 648108, 648114.