Tropical Storm in Florida, September 10 to 11, 2017

Name: Tropical Storm in Florida, September 10 to 11, 2017
Start: 2017-09-10T22:00
End: 2017-09-11T22:00
Location: Florida

September 10 to 11, 2017 · NWS TAE · 26 events in 26 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 24 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: 3
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $28 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 26

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.

Dixie county experienced trees and power lines down across the county. Roughly 40 to 50 homes sustained major damage with 55 suffering minor damage.

Leon county experienced tropical storm force wind gusts for approximately 8 hours. The highest wind gust recorded was 55 mph at the Tallahassee International Airport. The highest recorded sustained wind was 43 mph at the FSU WeatherSTEM site. Numerous trees and power lines were downed across the county. At the peak, approximately 70,000 customers were without power. There were 200 obstructions cleared from roadways. There were 88 homes that sustained some level of damage with one house destroyed, 4 sustaining major damage, and 29 sustaining minor damage. There were 11 shelters that hosted 3,000 people including local residents and evacuees from other parts of the state. FSU, FAMU, and TCC were closed for 6 days. County public schools were closed for 4 days.

In Taylor county, damage was primarily to trees and power lines with a few trees on houses causing damage. Three homes sustained major damage and two homes sustained minor damage. There were 10,941 power outages with some not restored for 6 days. There were blow out tides but no surge flooding. Two indirect fatalities occurred due to carbon monoxide from a generator.

In Washington county, there were a few trees and power lines downed. One tree blocked traffic on I-10 at mile marker 124.

In Liberty county, there were downed trees and power lines, but minimal to no damage to structures. There were 250 residents housed in shelters. Five car crashes during the event resulted in one fatality.

In Wakulla county, U.S. Highway 98 was blocked from SR267 to SR363 because of downed trees. A total of 98 trees were felled with 50 of those entangled in lines. All 98 downed trees were blocking roadways or presented a danger to traffic on roadways. Three trees fell on structures and two on vehicles. There were 8700 power outages and 317 evacuated to shelters. There were 10 homes damaged in total with 6 having major damage and 1 destroyed.

In Lafayette county, there were numerous trees and power lines down across the county with extensive damage to transmission and feeder lines resulting in power loss to 100 percent of county residents and businesses. Two residential structures were destroyed with three others sustaining major damage and nine sustaining minor damage.

In Madison county, trees and power lines were down across the county, two of which blocked traffic on I-10 at mile marker 253 and 246. Two roofs were damaged due to trees. A total of 12 homes were damaged, 3 of which sustained major damage.

In Jackson county, numerous trees and power lines were blown down and blocking roads. Two homes sustained major damage from falling trees.

In Bay county, 55 people were sheltered. Sporadic power outages occurred due to downed trees. Minor damage was sustained to one county fire station.

In Calhoun county, downed trees and power lines occurred with sporadic power outages, but there were no road closures or major structural damage reported.

In Franklin county, there were several trees downed with some damaging homes along with several power outages.

In Jefferson county, there were several trees downed with one falling on a home and three on cars. Barns, fences, and farms were damaged.

In Holmes county, there were a few trees and power lines downed. There were 35 evacuees from outside the county that were housed in shelters.

In Gulf county, a few trees and power lines were down across the county with around 2,000 people without power.

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 10, 6:46 PM EST, 3 hours 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 10, 6:46 PM EST, 3 hours 14 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
746 PM EDT Sun Sep 10 2017

.AVIATION [Through 00Z Tuesday]...

Conditions will gradually deteriorate overnight through Monday
morning as Hurricane Irma moves north-northwestward into our area.
Winds will increase to tropical storm force at TLH and VLD early
Monday morning, and tropical storm force winds will spread to
ABY and ECP by mid morning and DHN on Monday afternoon. Hurricane
force gusts are expected at VLD and TLH. Tropical storm force
gusts are expected at ECP during Monday morning and early afternoon.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION [516 PM EDT]...

.SHORT TERM [Tonight Through Monday night-Hurricane Irma]...

***Key Points***

1. Significant impacts from wind are expected across the Florida Big
Bend and southwest Georgia. Destructive winds will lead to downed
trees and power lines. Expect prolonged power outages and roads to
be impassible.

2. There is the danger of life-threatening inundation from storm
surge across coastal areas of Dixie, Taylor, Jefferson and Wakulla
counties.

3. Tropical storm force winds will increase tonight with the
strongest winds (including hurricane force across the eastern Big
Bend) beginning early Monday. Tropical storm force winds will end
Monday evening.

As of 2 PM ET, Irma remained a category 3 hurricane with maximum
sustained winds up to 120 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 on Monday morning/afternoon) 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: 8-12" of rain are forecast from Cross City
northward to Valdosta (highest in eastern FL Big Bend), with 5-7"
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
later tonight through Monday morning in the eastern FL Big Bend.

Irma currently maintains its strength as a category 3 major
hurricane, but recently made landfall at Marco Island in
southwestern FL and is expected to track NNW across far western FL
this evening. Looking at the latest satellite imagery, pockets of
dry air are becoming more apparent on the NW side of Irma and the
eye is becoming more ragged with some cloud top warming inside the
eye. Combined with potential land interaction and increasing shear,
this will likely cause some weakening through tonight.

However, outflow will remain impressive and water temperatures will
remain very warm on the western side of Irma's circulation, so
weakening should be somewhat slow as it skirts the far western
portion of the FL Peninsula. Also, an upper level ridge will build
from the Atlantic into the Carolinas on Monday morning, and this is
expected to cause Irma to move more northwestward during this time.
As a result, Irma could move back along the Gulf Coast or back over
the far northeastern Gulf during Monday morning before continuing
its motion northwestward across the FL Big Bend into SW Georgia from
the late morning through the early evening before moving northwest
of our area on Monday night. Winds and rain chances will gradually
taper off through early Tuesday morning as Irma exits our area.

.LONG TERM [Tuesday Through Sunday-post Hurricane Irma]...

Drier air will seep into the region on Tuesday as Irma moves
northwest over MS/AL as a depression. By Wednesday southerly winds
bring a return of low-level moisture. POPs are very low on Tuesday
but increase to 30 to 40 percent on Wednesday and Thursday. POPs
are 30 percent or below for the rest of the week. Temperatures
will increase slightly throughout the week. Highs will be mainly
in the upper 80s. Lows will be near 70.

.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...

Strong winds ahead of Irma. High dispersion values and rain
chances.

.HYDROLOGY...

Irma will move across the FL Big Bend into far southwest Georgia on
Monday. Rainfall totals from Sunday afternoon through Monday evening
will range from 8 to 12 inches from Cross City to Valdosta, 5 to 7
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 Monday 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   64  71  62  85  65 / 100 100  30  10  20
Panama City   65  76  66  82  68 /  70  70  10  10  10
Dothan        61  67  59  79  60 /  90 100  50  20  10
Albany        62  70  61  80  62 / 100 100  50  20  10
Valdosta      65  73  63  84  65 / 100 100  30  10  20
Cross City    70  76  69  86  70 / 100  90  20  10  20
Apalachicola  65  78  68  84  70 /  90  80  10  10  20

&&

.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 from 2 AM EDT Monday through Monday 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 from 2 AM EDT Monday through Monday 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.

&&

SHORT TERM...Lahr
LONG TERM...McD
AVIATION...Hollingsworth
MARINE...Lahr
FIRE WEATHER...McD
HYDROLOGY...Lahr

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

26 tropical storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Tropical Storm, Calhoun

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.406, -85.197 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Central Walton

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Central Walton forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.619, -86.171 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Coastal Bay

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Bay forecast zone
Property damage: $38,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.238, -85.633 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Coastal Dixie

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Dixie forecast zone
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 29.581, -83.187 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Coastal Franklin

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Franklin forecast zone
Property damage: $750,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 29.812, -84.800 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Coastal Gulf

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Gulf forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 29.909, -85.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Coastal Jefferson

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Jefferson forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.424, -83.900 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Coastal Taylor

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Taylor forecast zone
Property damage: $1.5 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.020, -83.619 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Coastal Wakulla

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Wakulla forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.148, -84.376 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Gadsden

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Gadsden forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.580, -84.614 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Holmes

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Holmes forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.868, -85.814 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Inland Bay

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Inland Bay forecast zone
Property damage: $37,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.238, -85.633 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Inland Dixie

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Inland Dixie forecast zone
Property damage: $7.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 29.581, -83.187 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Inland Franklin

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Inland Franklin forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 29.812, -84.800 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Inland Gulf

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Inland Gulf forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 29.909, -85.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Inland Jefferson

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Inland Jefferson forecast zone
Property damage: $900,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.424, -83.900 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Inland Taylor

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Inland Taylor forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 2 indirect
Property damage: $1.5 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.020, -83.619 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Inland Wakulla

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Inland Wakulla forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.148, -84.376 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Jackson

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.795, -85.215 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Lafayette

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Lafayette forecast zone
Property damage: $3.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 29.986, -83.181 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Leon

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Leon forecast zone
Property damage: $7.5 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.458, -84.278 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Liberty

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Liberty forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, Madison

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Property damage: $2.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.444, -83.470 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, North Walton

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: North Walton forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, South Walton

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: South Walton forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.619, -86.171 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Washington

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.611, -85.665 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Sex	Where	Kind
Tropical Storm, Inland Taylor	2017-09-12	Male	Permanent Home	Indirect
Tropical Storm, Inland Taylor	2017-09-12	Female	Permanent Home	Indirect
Tropical Storm, Liberty	2017-09-11		Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Indirect

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 Florida in 2017 Every state in 2017 This day in weather history Warnings in Florida, 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: 719613, 719614, 719615, 719616, 719617, 719618, 719619, 719620, 719621, 719622, 719623, 719624, 719625, 719626, 719627, 719628, 719629, 719630, 719631, 719632, 719633, 719634, 719635, 719636, 719637, 719638.