Tropical Storm in Alabama, September 11, 2017

Name: Tropical Storm in Alabama, September 11, 2017
Start: 2017-09-11T04:00
End: 2017-09-11T22:00
Location: Alabama

September 11, 2017 · NWS TAE · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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: $650,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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.

Hurricane Irma brought numerous impacts to the Florida Big Bend, southwest Georgia and southeast Alabama including widespread downed trees and power lines, roads blocked by trees, power outages, and trees on homes. Two people died during the event - one due to a car crash (Liberty County, FL) and another that had a heart attack (Worth County, GA). Two indirect deaths also occurred due to carbon monoxide from a generator (Taylor County, FL). While many counties across the Florida Big Bend and southwest Georgia were impacted, the greatest impacts were across the eastern portion of the area near the I-75 corridor. There were over 6.5 million customers without power in Florida, over 930,000 customers without power in Georgia, and over 45,000 customers without power in Alabama. Total damage cost for each county was estimated when figures were not available.

For southeast Alabama, Houston county reported a few trees and power lines down.

Coffee county reported several power lines and large trees down across major highways including Highway 135 South, 441 South, and 151 South. Some trees fell on structures and one farm structure collapsed.

Henry county reported numerous trees and power lines were down across the county. Two homes sustained structural damage damage due to fallen trees. Multiple roads were blocked with fallen trees. Approximately 1200 homes were without power.

Dale county reported several trees and power lines were down in the county. Two homes suffered minor damage due to trees falling on the roofs. Power outages were also noted in the county.

Geneva county reported trees and power lines down across the county with the county removing trees from 37 sites. In addition, on County Road 60, the roof was lost off a mobile home. The ceiling of the mobile home eventually collapsed and with rain entering the mobile home, it was a complete loss.

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 Sep 11, 2:03 AM EST, 1 hour 57 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 11, 2:03 AM EST, 1 hour 57 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
303 AM EDT Mon Sep 11 2017

.NEAR TERM [Through Today]...

As of 2 AM ET, Irma is a category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained
winds up to 85 mph. Here are the key threats for our area from Irma:

- WIND: Sustained hurricane force winds are expected across the
eastern Florida Big Bend. Sustained tropical storm force winds and
hurricane force gusts are expected across the remainder of the Big
Bend and into southwest Georgia. Tropical storm force gusts
(possibly briefly sustained) are likely across the FL Panhandle and
SE Alabama. Tropical storm force winds are expected to end on Monday
evening. Widespread wind damage is likely, especially across the FL
Big Bend and parts of SW Georgia. Numerous trees and power lines
will be knocked down. This will lead to widespread power outages
across these areas.

- SURGE: Up to 4-6 feet of inundation is expected across coastal
regions of the central and eastern FL Big Bend from Wakulla County
southeastward through Dixie County. There is a danger of life-
threatening inundation across this coastal area.

- INLAND FLOODING: 7-8" of rain are forecast from Cross City
northward to Valdosta (highest in eastern FL Big Bend), with 4-6"
from Tallahassee into most of southwest Georgia and 4" or less
across the FL Panhandle and SE Alabama. The higher amounts
across the eastern portion of our area will likely lead to some
river flooding, and isolated flash flooding could occur
especially in larger towns/cities in the FL Big Bend and SW
Georgia.

- TORNADOES: The tornado threat is low for most of our area, but
isolated tornadoes could develop generally north and east of Irma
particularly in the eastern FL Big Bend and southwestern Georgia.

Irma continues to track across the Florida peninsula overnight,
which combined with shear and dry air on its western flank,
continued the weakening trend down to category 1. The official
forecast track from NHC does not bring it back over water thus
weakening will continue. Movement has been northerly but jogs to the
northwest and an eventual turn to the northwest with mid level high
building across the southeast US is anticipated. This will bring the
center (or whats left of it) across the Big Bend and through
southwest Georgia on its way to northern Alabama. Winds and
precipitation chances will decrease from south to north behind
Irma with an end of tropical storm force winds tonight.

.SHORT TERM [Tonight Through Wednesday]...

Irma will continue to weaken as it exits our CWA tonight and lifts
into northern Alabama by midday Tuesday. As a result, rain and gusty
winds will gradually be ending from south to north. Southerly
winds in the wake of Irma will bring a return of low-level
moisture and rain chances on Wednesday. After a brief cool spell,
max temps will gradually warm into the mid to upper 80s by
Wednesday. Low temps will continue a bit below seasonal levels
both nights ranging from the upper 50s northwest to upper 60s
southeast.

.LONG TERM [Wednesday Night Through Monday]...

Low level flow will continue to pull Gulf moisture northward across
our region keeping rain chances in the forecast. PoPs will be in
the 30-40% range each day. Highs will be in the upper 80s.with
lows near 70.

&&

.AVIATION [Through 06Z Tuesday]...

Conditions will gradually deteriorate through the morning hours
as Irma moves north-northwestward into our area. Wind gusts will
increase to tropical storm force at TLH and VLD this morning, and
tropical storm force winds are expected to spread to ABY and ECP
by mid morning and DHN this afternoon. An occasional hurricane
force gust still cannot be ruled out around VLD and TLH from mid
morning through the early afternoon hours.

&&

.MARINE...

Irma will continue moving north across the western part of the FL
Peninsula tonight and near/across the eastern Apalachee Bay on
Monday morning, bringing hurricane conditions to our eastern coastal
waters and tropical storm force winds to our western waters with
gusts to hurricane force possible there as well. Winds and seas will
gradually fall through mid week as the storm lifts to the north.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

High dispersion values are expected today and Tuesday. Otherwise,
no fire concerns.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...

Irma will move across the FL Big Bend into far southwest Georgia later
this morning. Rainfall totals from through this evening will
range from 7 to 8 inches from Cross City to Valdosta, 4 to 6
inches around the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola rivers through
much of southwest Georgia, and 2 to 4 inches west of the
Chattahoochee and Apalachicola rivers. This will cause some rises
on rivers in the eastern part of our area with some rapid rises
possible on smaller creeks and rivers. As a result, several points
along area rivers in the Florida Big Bend and southwest Georgia
are forecast to reach minor flood stage. Highest chances of flash
flooding will be across the eastern parts of our area with intense
rainfall rates and possible training from some bands associated
with Irma. As a result, a Flash Flood Watch remains in effect
across the FL Big Bend and SW Georgia through this evening.

&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not requested. However, spotters are always
encouraged to safely report significant weather conditions when they
occur by calling the office or tweeting us @NWSTallahassee.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...

Tallahassee   71  62  85  65  86 / 100  30  10  20  40
Panama City   76  66  82  68  84 /  70  10  10  20  30
Dothan        67  59  79  60  84 / 100  50  20  10  30
Albany        70  61  81  62  84 / 100  50  20  10  30
Valdosta      73  63  84  65  86 / 100  30  10  20  40
Cross City    76  69  86  70  87 /  90  20  10  30  40
Apalachicola  77  68  83  71  85 /  80  10  10  20  30

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Hurricane Warning 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 this evening for Coastal Dixie-Coastal
     Jefferson-Coastal Taylor-Coastal Wakulla-Gadsden-Inland
     Dixie-Inland Jefferson-Inland Taylor-Inland Wakulla-
     Lafayette-Leon-Madison.

     Tropical Storm Warning for Calhoun-Central Walton-Coastal Bay-
     Coastal Gulf-Holmes-Inland Bay-Inland Gulf-Jackson-North
     Walton-South Walton-Washington.

GA...Hurricane Warning for Baker-Berrien-Brooks-Calhoun-Clay-Colquitt-
     Cook-Decatur-Dougherty-Early-Grady-Lanier-Lee-Lowndes-
     Miller-Mitchell-Quitman-Randolph-Seminole-Terrell-Thomas-
     Tift-Worth.

     Flash Flood Watch through this 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.

     Tropical Storm Warning for Ben Hill-Irwin-Turner.

AL...Tropical Storm Warning for Coffee-Dale-Geneva-Henry-Houston.

GM...Hurricane Warning for Apalachee Bay or Coastal Waters From
     Keaton Beach to Ochlockonee River Fl out to 20 Nm-Coastal
     Waters From Ochlockonee River to Apalachicola Fl out to 20
     Nm-Coastal waters from Suwannee River to Keaton Beach out
     20 NM-Waters from Suwannee River to Apalachicola FL from 20
     to 60 NM.

     Tropical Storm Warning for Coastal waters from Apalachicola to
     Destin FL out 20 NM-Waters from Apalachicola to Destin FL
     from 20 to 60 NM.

&&

NEAR TERM...Scholl
SHORT TERM...Barry
LONG TERM...Barry
AVIATION...Scholl
MARINE...Barry
FIRE WEATHER...Barry
HYDROLOGY...Barry

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 11, 2:41 AM EST, 1 hour 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
341 AM EDT MON SEP 11 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0335 AM     TROPICAL STORM   CROSS CITY AIRPORT      29.63N 83.11W
09/11/2017                   DIXIE              FL   ASOS

            PEAK GUST TO 53 KNOTS OR 61 MPH AT THE CROSS CITY AIRPORT
            SO FAR

&&

DVD

Local storm report, Sep 11, 2:51 AM EST, 1 hour 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
351 AM EDT MON SEP 11 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0349 AM     TROPICAL STORM   FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSIT 30.44N 84.30W
09/11/2017                   LEON               FL   MESONET

            INITIAL TROPICAL STORM FORCE WIND GUST OF 42 MPH MEASURED
            AT FSU WEATHERSTEM

&&

DVD

Local storm report, Sep 11, 3:11 AM EST, 49 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
411 AM EDT MON SEP 11 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0406 AM     TROPICAL STORM   5 SSE HAHIRA            30.92N 83.34W
09/11/2017                   LOWNDES            GA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER ESTIMATED WIND GUSTS OF 50 MPH

&&

DVD

Local storm report, Sep 11, 3:34 AM EST, 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
434 AM EDT MON SEP 11 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0430 AM     TROPICAL STORM   LAKELAND                31.04N 83.07W
09/11/2017                   LANIER             GA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            REPORTS OF POWER OUTAGES STARTING IN LANIER COUNTY.

&&

DVD

Local storm report, Sep 11, 3:58 AM EST, 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
458 AM EDT MON SEP 11 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0443 AM     TROPICAL STORM   TALLAHASSEE REGIONAL A/ 30.40N 84.35W
09/11/2017                   LEON               FL   ASOS

            INITIAL TROPICAL STORM FORCE WIND GUST OF 36 KNOTS OR 41
            MPH MEASURED AT THE TALLAHASSEE AIRPORT

&&

DVD

Local storm report, Sep 11, 4:00 AM EST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
500 AM EDT MON SEP 11 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0454 AM     TROPICAL STORM   MOODY AFB               30.98N 83.19W
09/11/2017                   LOWNDES            GA   AWOS

            PEAK GUST OF 48 KNOTS OR 55 MPH SO FAR

&&

DVD

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 tropical storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Tropical Storm, Coffee

When: September 11, 4:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Coffee forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.403, -85.988 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Dale

When: September 11, 4:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Dale forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.432, -85.611 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Geneva

When: September 11, 4:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Geneva forecast zone
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.095, -85.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Henry

When: September 11, 4:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Henry forecast zone
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.515, -85.241 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Houston

When: September 11, 4:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Houston forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.153, -85.302 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Tropical Storm: A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots (39 to 73 mph).

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alabama in 2017 Every state in 2017 This day in weather history Warnings in Alabama, September 2017 The 2017 hurricane season

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: 719465, 719466, 719467, 719468, 719469.