Tropical Storm and Storm Surge in Florida, October 7 to 8, 2017

Name: Tropical Storm and Storm Surge in Florida, October 7 to 8, 2017
Start: 2017-10-07T17:00
End: 2017-10-08T21:00
Location: Florida

October 7 to 8, 2017 · NWS MOB · 9 events in 4 counties and zones

Hurricane Nate quickly moved north northwest out of the northwest Caribbean Sea and across the Gulf of Mexico, making landfall near Biloxi, MS just after midnight on October 8th as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum winds of 85 mph. Nate quickly weakened as it moved inland across inland southeast Mississippi and southwest Alabama and was downgraded to a tropical depression over central Alabama…

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 9

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 MOB wrote it up.

The main impacts to the western Florida Panhandle were from storm surge. In Escambia County, tide gauge information from Pensacola Bay indicate peak inundation of 3 feet above normally dry ground occurred along immediate coastal areas of the Pensacola Bay System. USGS data indicates a peak of 3 to 5 feet of inundation likely occurred at the immediate shore of the barrier islands. The greatest impact was to the Fort Pickens areas where part of the roadway was damaged. The road also had 3 feet of sand covering it with 4 feet of sand deposited on some of the parking lots. In addition, a portion of Highway 399 between Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach was damaged.

In Santa Rosa County, peak surge inundation of 3 feet impacted areas along the coast of Escambia and East Bays. Peak surge inundation of 3 to 5 feet impacted areas along the immediate shore of Santa Rosa Island as well as along the shoreline of Santa Rosa Sound. Numerous piers were damaged.

In Okaloosa County, peak surge inundation of up to 3 feet was observed, but no significant damage was reported.

Peak wind gusts along the coast ranged from 50 to 60 mph. Pensacola Naval Air Station and Hurlburt Field measured a sustained tropical storm force wind of 40 mph and 39 mph respectively between 1 and 3 am on October 8th.

5 to 10 inches of rain was observed across the western Florida Panhandle, with the highest occurring in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties. This produced isolated instances of flash flooding in Okaloosa County.

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 Mobile, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 7, 2:42 PM CST, 2 hours 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 7, 2:42 PM CST, 2 hours 18 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Mobile AL
342 PM CDT Sat Oct 7 2017

.NEAR TERM /Now Through Sunday/...Hurricane Nate dominates the
weather headlines in the near term. Nate is moving north northwest
at a very high rate of speed and will bring a multitude of impacts
to the local area tonight as it approaches the Mississippi Gulf
coast. At this time, the biggest concern remains the potential
for life threatening coastal storm surge of upwards of 5 to 9'
feet (locally 10') of inundation above normally dry ground focused
along the Mobile/Baldwin county coast. East of these areas over
the western FL Panhandle 3 to 5' (locally 6') possible of
inundation. Heavy rains a threat with a swath of 3 to 6", locally
8" over the heart of the forecast area. Flash flood watches
remain in effect for this potential. Elevated threat of tornadoes
exist with the passage of rain bands. Tornadoes can spin up
quickly through mid-day Sunday. Increasing surf and long period
swell will maintain a high risk of dangerous to potentially
deadly rip currents. Nate moves quickly north northeast on Sunday
and will be weakening rapidly as it does. Winds to decrease
through the course of the day. Rain chances however remain at
categorical probabilities as the environment remains very moist in
the wake of Nate. Along area beaches, will continue to deal with
long period swell which will maintain a lingering threat for
dangerous to potentially deadly rip currents. Refer to latest
discussions/public and forecast products from the National
Hurricane Center for more specific information regarding Nate.

Night-time lows warm and muggy. Sunday's highs forecast in the
lower 80s. /10

.SHORT TERM /Sunday night Through Tuesday night/...Deep layer
ridge, which drives the remnant circulation of Nate quickly up
into the northeast Sunday night, builds southwest across the
southeast and northern Gulf the first of the week. Plume of deep
moisture projected to remain in place along the western flank of
the ridge axis and upper trof advancing east over the Plains. This
pattern maintains an unsettled weather pattern, atypical for
October which is normally one of our dry months on the climate
period of record.

At the surface, high pressure nosing in from the east maintains a
light southerly flow through much of the short term. This results
in overnight lows being well above seasonable values in the lower
to mid 70s Sunday and Monday nights. Daytime highs in the mid 80s
on Monday lift into the mid to upper 80s Tuesday. /10

.LONG TERM /Wednesday Through Saturday/...A weak frontal boundary
is progged to ease southward to the coast early Thursday morning
and begins to stall and dissipate off the coast by the end of the
period. A small chance of showers and storms anticipated in the
medium range. Daily highs in the mid to upper 80s and overnight
lows in the mid to upper 60s interior and lower to mid 70s coast.
/10

&&

.MARINE...Hurricane Nate lifts quickly northward towards the north
central Gulf coast, making landfall late tonight anywhere across the
hurricane warning area as a potential category two hurricane.
Please refer to the latest marine weather message issued by the
National Weather Service in Mobile on specific information on tropical
cyclone watches and warnings, expected winds and seas. All
interests should continue to monitor the latest forecasts from the
National Hurricane Center regarding Hurricane Nate. /10

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Mobile      76  82  75  84 / 100  90  40  60
Pensacola   78  82  77  84 / 100  90  50  50
Destin      80  82  78  83 /  90  80  60  50
Evergreen   75  82  75  85 / 100  90  50  60
Waynesboro  73  81  73  85 / 100  90  40  70
Camden      74  81  74  85 / 100  90  50  70
Crestview   78  82  76  85 / 100  90  60  50

&&

.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...Hurricane Warning for ALZ052-261>266.

     Flash Flood Watch through Sunday evening for ALZ051>057-059-
     261>266.

     Tropical Storm Warning for ALZ051-053>060.

     High Rip Current Risk through late Sunday night for ALZ265-266.

FL...Flash Flood Watch through Sunday evening for FLZ201>204.

     Tropical Storm Warning for FLZ201>206.

     Hurricane Watch for FLZ201>206.

     High Rip Current Risk through late Sunday night for FLZ202-204-
     206.

MS...Hurricane Warning for MSZ075-076-078-079.

     Flash Flood Watch through Sunday evening for MSZ067-075-076-078-
     079.

     Tropical Storm Warning for MSZ067.

GM...Hurricane Warning for GMZ630>633-650-670.

     Tropical Storm Warning for GMZ634-635-655-675.

     Hurricane Watch for GMZ634-635-655-675.

&&

This product is also available on the web at:
http://weather.gov/mob

Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 7, 2:55 PM CST, 2 hours 5 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Mobile AL
355 PM CDT Sat Oct 7 2017

ALZ051>060-261>266-FLZ201>206-MSZ067-075-076-078-079-082100-
Choctaw-Washington-Clarke-Wilcox-Monroe-Conecuh-Butler-Crenshaw-
Escambia-Covington-Mobile Inland-Baldwin Inland-Mobile Central-
Baldwin Central-Mobile Coastal-Baldwin Coastal-Escambia Inland-
Escambia Coastal-Santa Rosa Inland-Santa Rosa Coastal-
Okaloosa Inland-Okaloosa Coastal-Wayne-Perry-Greene-Stone-George-
355 PM CDT Sat Oct 7 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central
Alabama...southwest Alabama...northwest Florida and southeast
Mississippi.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Please see our tropical products and check our website
(www.weather.gov/mob) or the National Hurricane Center
(www.hurricanes.gov) for the latest updates on Hurricane Nate.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

Although Nate will be moving away, a lingering threat for
dangerous to potentially deadly rip currents continues along area
beaches on Sunday.

No hazardous weather is expected Monday through Friday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Activation of SkyWarn Severe Storm Spotter networks is not
expected through Friday.

GMZ630>635-650-655-670-675-082100-
Northern Mobile Bay-Southern Mobile Bay-Mississippi Sound-
Perdido Bay-Pensacola Bay System-Choctawhatchee 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-
355 PM CDT Sat Oct 7 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the coastal
waters of Alabama and northwest Florida.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Hurricane Nate lifts quickly northward towards the north
central Gulf coast, making landfall late tonight anywhere across the
hurricane warning area as a potential category two hurricane.
Please refer to the latest marine weather message issued by the
National Weather Service in Mobile on specific information on tropical
cyclone watches and warnings, expected winds and seas. All
interests should continue to monitor the latest forecasts from the
National Hurricane Center regarding Hurricane Nate.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

Although Nate clears the area Sunday, seas will be slow to
subside. Marine conditions improve markedly by Monday. No
hazardous weather is expected next week.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Oct 7, 1:40 PM CST, 3 hours 20 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
240 PM CDT SAT OCT 7 2017

ALZ264-266-072015-
Baldwin Coastal AL-Baldwin Central AL-
240 PM CDT SAT OCT 7 2017

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
SOUTHWESTERN BALDWIN COUNTY UNTIL 315 PM CDT...

At 240 PM CDT, the strong thunderstorm was located 5 miles east of
Bon Secour, or 5 miles northwest of Orange Beach, moving northwest at
35 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Daphne, Fairhope, Foley, Point Clear, Magnolia Springs, Summerdale
and Silverhill.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3036 8755 3028 8763 3044 8806 3065 8786
TIME...MOT...LOC 1940Z 129DEG 30KT 3033 8764

05/RR

Special weather statement, Oct 7, 2:21 PM CST, 2 hours 39 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
321 PM CDT SAT OCT 7 2017

MSZ075-076-072045-
Perry MS-Greene MS-
321 PM CDT SAT OCT 7 2017

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...CENTRAL
PERRY AND SOUTHWESTERN GREENE COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM CDT...

At 321 PM CDT, the strong thunderstorm was located over McLain, or 14
miles west of Leakesville, moving northwest at 30 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Richton, Beaumont, New Augusta and McLain.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3142 8899 3117 8866 3102 8878 3118 8915
      3122 8915
TIME...MOT...LOC 2021Z 124DEG 25KT 3114 8880

05/RR

Local storm report, Oct 7, 2:41 PM CST, 2 hours 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
341 PM CDT SAT OCT 07 2017

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

0158 PM     TORNADO          1 E GULF SHORES         30.25N 87.69W
10/07/2017                   BALDWIN            AL   PUBLIC

            VIDEO FROM SOCIAL MEDIA OF A WATERSPOUT MOVING ONTO THE
            BEACH NEAR GULF SHORES. NO REPORTS OF DAMAGE AT THIS
            TIME.

&&

STEVEM

Special weather statement, Oct 7, 2:48 PM CST, 2 hours 12 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
348 PM CDT SAT OCT 7 2017

MSZ075-076-072115-
Perry MS-Greene MS-
348 PM CDT SAT OCT 7 2017

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
NORTHERN PERRY AND WEST CENTRAL GREENE COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM CDT...

At 347 PM CDT, the strong thunderstorm was located 4 miles southeast
of Richton, moving northwest at 25 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Richton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3132 8914 3143 8915 3143 8889 3131 8875
      3117 8888 3130 8915
TIME...MOT...LOC 2047Z 127DEG 22KT 3129 8889

05/RR

Local storm report, Oct 7, 4:08 PM CST, 52 minutes before

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Local storm report, Oct 7, 4:16 PM CST, 44 minutes before

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The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 86 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:15 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 tropical storm, 3 storm surge/tide, 3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Tropical Storm, Escambia Coastal

When: October 7, 5:00 PM CST to October 8, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Escambia Coastal forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 30.614, -87.341 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Santa Rosa Coastal

When: October 7, 5:00 PM CST to October 8, 9:00 PM CST
Where: Santa Rosa Coastal forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 30.693, -87.018 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Okaloosa Coastal

When: October 7, 5:00 PM CST to October 8, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Okaloosa Coastal forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 30.665, -86.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm Surge/Tide, Escambia Coastal

When: October 7, 9:00 PM CST to October 8, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Escambia Coastal forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.614, -87.341 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm Surge/Tide, Santa Rosa Coastal

When: October 7, 9:00 PM CST to October 8, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Santa Rosa Coastal forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.693, -87.018 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm Surge/Tide, Okaloosa Coastal

When: October 7, 9:00 PM CST to October 8, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Okaloosa Coastal forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.665, -86.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Okaloosa

When: October 8, 7:15 AM CST to 9:15 AM CST
Where: Okaloosa County, 1.91 mi WSW of (Cew)bob Sikes Arpt to 2.13 mi WSW of (Cew)bob Sikes Arpt
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 30.770, -86.550

Road impassable from flooding along Valley Road near 1st Avenue.

Flash Flood, Okaloosa

When: October 8, 7:15 AM CST to 9:15 AM CST
Where: Okaloosa County, 3.03 mi WNW of Dorcas to 2.54 mi WNW of Dorcas
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 30.809, -86.470

Road impassable from flooding along Evergreen Parkway.

Flash Flood, Okaloosa

When: October 8, 7:15 AM CST to 9:15 AM CST
Where: Okaloosa County, 1.82 mi NW of Campton to 1.47 mi N of Campton
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 30.900, -86.540

Road impassable from flooding along Jack Road in Laurel Hill.

What these are

Tropical Storm: A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots (39 to 73 mph).
Storm Surge/Tide: Water pushed ashore above the normal tide by a storm’s winds and low pressure.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Florida in 2017 Every state in 2017 This day in weather history Warnings in Florida, October 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 724837, 724838, 724842, 724840, 724841, 724843, 724985, 724987, 724989.