Tropical Storm in Georgia, September 10 to 11, 2017

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

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; 26 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: 1
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $34 million
Crop damage: $20 million
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 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.

Seminole county reported $150,000 in damage to structures, trees, and power lines. There were 42 evacuated locals and 74 evacuees from Florida.

Mitchell county reported 200 trees downed onto roadways and power lines. There was little known property damage. However, agricultural damage may have been significant to pecans and cotton.

Colquitt county reported 200 trees downed and many power lines downed resulting in road closures. Some trees fell on homes and one tree fell on a car. Half of the city of Moultrie lost power.

Lowndes county reported over 500 trees downed with 34 homes damaged and 60,000 customers without power. More than 5,000 pecan trees were destroyed. There was approximately 25,000 CY of vegetative debris on public and private property. The total estimated property losses were around $9 million. Agricultural losses due to the pecan trees was estimated around $12.5 million based on one pecan tree being values at around $2500.

Tift county reported many trees and power lines downed and blocking roads including U.S. Highway 19.

Early county reported a peak wind gust of 63 mph at the EMA office.

Dougherty county reported widespread trees and power lines downed in the Albany area with many power outages and blocked roads. One tree fell on a car in the Shoreham apartment complex.

Worth county reported widespread trees and power lines down with damage to roofs and vehicles reported. Some large oak trees were among the trees toppled by the storm. A man died of a heart attack while sheltering in a homemade shelter. A sustained wind of 42 mph with a peak gust to 70 mph was measured at the EMA office.

Lanier county reported trees and power lines down across the county including a few large oak trees. Five trees were down on homes. The county sheltered 97 people.

Berrien county reported trees down across the county with power outages. There was one report of structural damage. In the city of Nashville, trees fell onto two residences causing significant roof damage.

Turner county reported trees and power lines down with roofs blown off several homes. Several barns were also blown down.

Decatur county reported trees and power lines down with Faceville Highway blocked.

Lee county reported many trees down across the county. Trees fell onto or into several mobile homes. Downed power lines blocked U.S. Highway 19. The city of Smithville had no potable water for a period of time from Monday into Tuesday.

Thomas county reported numerous traffic signals out. Downed trees on power lines left 750 residents without power.

Terrell county reported several power lines and large trees downed, damaging several homes. At least one home in Dawson was severely damaged by a large pecan tree.

Quitman county reported trees and power lines downed across the county. The estimated damage to the county was $15,000.

Randolph county reported widespread trees and power lines down across the county. Forty percent of the county was without power. A two story house caught on fire from a downed tree on a line.

Miller county reported numerous trees and power lines down throughout the county. One house and one outbuilding fire occurred due to downed power lines.

Baker county reported trees and power lines down across the county. Approximately 2,400 people lost power.

Grady county reported more than 225 trees and power lines down across the county. Seven to eight homes sustained minor damage due to falling trees. Approximately 11,000 people were without power. A voluntary evacuation was ordered for mobile homes and approximately 550 people in the county evacuated.

Irwin county reported numerous trees and power lines down across the county. Eight homes sustained minor structural damage due to fallen trees. Approximately 70 people evacuated from their mobile homes. There was one indirect injury from the storm as one lineman was electrocuted.

Cook county reported trees and power lines down across the county that resulted in 26 road closures. These impacts lasted 4 to 5 days. Approximately 15 homes were damaged due to fallen trees. School in the county was closed for the whole week.

Brooks county reported widespread trees down across the county. Several homes were damaged, including 2 with major damage. Several roads were washed out. Power outages lasted 4 to 5 days across the county with several thousand power outages. There were 150 people sheltered in the county.

Calhoun county reported numerous trees and power lines down across the county. There were 250 power outages lasting a couple of days. A comfort station was set up for people in mobile homes to stay at during the storm, and 70 people stayed at the comfort center. Ten homes sustained structural damage due to wind or fallen trees. One business in Arlington lost its roof due to wind.

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, Baker

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Baker forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.326, -84.445 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Ben Hill

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Ben Hill forecast zone
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.760, -83.220 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Berrien

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Berrien forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.276, -83.230 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Brooks

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Brooks forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.842, -83.580 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Calhoun

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Property damage: $2.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.529, -84.624 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Clay

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.626, -84.980 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Colquitt

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Colquitt forecast zone
Property damage: $2.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.188, -83.769 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Cook

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Cook forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.154, -83.430 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Decatur

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Decatur forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.878, -84.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Dougherty

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Dougherty forecast zone
Property damage: $5.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.533, -84.216 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Early

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Early forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.323, -84.904 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Grady

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Grady forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.875, -84.234 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Irwin

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Irwin forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.602, -83.276 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Lanier

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Lanier forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.038, -83.063 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Lee

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Lee forecast zone
Property damage: $2.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.780, -84.141 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Lowndes

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Lowndes forecast zone
Property damage: $9.0 million
Crop damage: $13 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.834, -83.268 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Miller

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Miller forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.164, -84.731 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Mitchell

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Mitchell forecast zone
Property damage: $200,000
Crop damage: $7.5 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.225, -84.194 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Quitman

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Quitman forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.867, -85.019 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Randolph

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Randolph forecast zone
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.763, -84.754 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Seminole

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Seminole forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.939, -84.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Terrell

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Terrell forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.777, -84.437 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Thomas

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Thomas forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.864, -83.919 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Tift

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Tift forecast zone
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.457, -83.527 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Turner

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Turner forecast zone
Property damage: $2.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.716, -83.624 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Worth

When: September 10, 10:00 PM EST to September 11, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Worth forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Property damage: $2.0 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.552, -83.851 (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	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Tropical Storm, Worth	2017-09-11		Male	Permanent Home	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 Georgia in 2017 Every state in 2017 This day in weather history Warnings in Georgia, 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: 719639, 719640, 719641, 719642, 719643, 719644, 719645, 719646, 719647, 719648, 719649, 719650, 719651, 719652, 719653, 719654, 719655, 719656, 719657, 719658, 719659, 719660, 719661, 719662, 719663, 719664.