Tornado and Flooding in Alabama, February 11 to 12, 2018

Name: Tornado and Flooding in Alabama, February 11 to 12, 2018
Start: 2018-02-11T03:42
End: 2018-02-12T04:00
Location: Alabama

February 11 to 12, 2018 · NWS TAE · 6 events in 2 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: $10,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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.

For the first time since January 2017, an event including both flooding and tornadoes impacted our area starting on February 11, 2018. Two tornadoes touched down across inland portions of the Florida Panhandle before sunrise, followed by persistent heavy rainfall that resulted in flooding at several river sites. One of the tornadoes clipped far southern Houston county. As an upper level trough dug southward across the western and central U.S., southerly flow drew moisture from the Gulf of Mexico northward into the tri-state area over the weekend. Upper air soundings measured this increased moisture with precipitable water values around 1.5 inches on Sunday, well above the 90th percentile and a record for the 12z February 11 sounding, although the record for that date and time are below the average max for this time of year. With a cold front and upper level trough west of the area, the persistent deep layer moisture helped to create a favorable set-up for high rainfall amounts. This wet pattern resulted in copious amounts of rainfall across the tri-state region. The highest rainfall amounts were across the Florida Panhandle where 8 to 10 inches fell with localized areas receiving more than 10 inches across coastal Walton and Bay counties. The highest observed rainfall total was in Walton County, where a 48-hour rainfall total of 11.45 inches was recorded. Across southeast Alabama and portions of southwest Georgia, widespread 6 to 8 inches of rain fell. While one Flash Flood Warning was issued, the majority of the impacts from this event were from moderate rainfall rates over a prolonged period of time as convection trained across the tri-state area. These high rainfall totals resulted in numerous road closures across the Florida Panhandle from water covered roads and washed out roadways. In addition, a few roads were closed across southeast Alabama.

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 Feb 11, 2:09 AM CST, 1 hour 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 11, 2:09 AM CST, 1 hour 33 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
309 AM EST Sun Feb 11 2018

.NEAR TERM [Through Today]...

Heavy rainfall will be the main threat today as a series of upper
level disturbances riding along the subtropical jet interact with an
unseasonably moist airmass in place. Precipitable water values are
analyzed as high as 1.80 inches south of Mobile via the 03z SPC
mesoanalysis. To put this into perspective, the record observed
value on a KTAE sounding for the month of February is 1.79 inches.
Both the NAM and GFS indicate PWATs over 1.70" advecting
northeastward into western portions of the tri-state area today.
Heavy rainfall rates of 2-4" per hour have already been estimated by
dual-pol radar with strong convection. The key to any flood threat
will be whether or not convection can train over any one area for
more than an hour or two. Looking at forecast soundings from the NAM
and GFS in BUFKIT, the MBE velocity vectors do favor some potential
to see training convection in the Panama City/Dothan/Albany corridor
today. Our local ensemble of CAM guidance is also showing this
possibility with a 15-30 percent chance of seeing 6 inches of rain
today near and west of an Albany to Panama City line. Therefore, we
have issued a flood watch for today and tonight for the western
portions of the area. There is also a marginal risk of a severe
storm or two, mainly in the form of gusty winds.

.SHORT TERM [Tonight Through Tuesday]...

A cold front will slowly makes it's way eastward across our CWA
tonight through Monday. Rain chances will remain elevated and some
of the rain may be heavy at times with embedded thunderstorms. The
front is forecast to push south of the local area Monday night and
Tuesday and stall and the upper flow becomes zonal. On Tuesday, a
wedge of high pressure at the surface will build down from the Mid-
Atlantic states bringing a drier airmass into our northern zones.
PoPs Tuesday will be tapered north to south with the highest (50%)
across our Florida zones. Temperatures will continue above seasonal
levels with highs in the 70s and lows in the 60s.

.LONG TERM [Tuesday Night Through Sunday]...

Upper ridging will build over the local region providing mostly
dry conditions and warmer than normal temperatures. Highs will
mostly be in the mid to upper 70s. Lows will be in the mid 50s to
around 60.

&&

.AVIATION [Through 06Z Monday]...

Poor flying condition are expected through the period with low
ceilings, fog, and convection across the area. In general, IFR-LIFR
conditions are expected this morning, improving to MVFR-IFR this
afternoon.

&&

.MARINE...

Light to moderate southerly winds today will become easterly by late
Monday. Winds will be light mostly from the east or southeast at
least through the middle of the week.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

Red flag conditions are not expected for the next several days.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...

Heavy rainfall is expected across the western portions of the area
today, generally near and west of an Albany to Panama City line. In
general, 2-4 inches of rain is expected, however, some locations
could see up to 6 inches where convection moves repeatedly over the
same locations. This would be enough to cause some flooding issues,
mainly in form of dirt road washouts and flooding in poor drainage
and urban areas. Smaller creeks and streams will also be susceptible
to flooding. Therefore, we have issued a flood watch for today and
tonight for the western portions of the area.

&&

.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   72  65  75  64  76 /  60  80  80  50  50
Panama City   69  65  72  63  73 / 100  80  70  40  40
Dothan        71  66  74  62  74 / 100  80  50  40  30
Albany        71  66  75  62  71 / 100  80  60  50  30
Valdosta      78  66  76  64  72 /  50  60  80  50  40
Cross City    79  65  78  65  78 /  20  40  60  50  50
Apalachicola  69  64  71  62  73 /  50  80  80  50  40

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Flood Watch through Monday morning for Calhoun-Central Walton-
     Coastal Bay-Holmes-Inland Bay-Jackson-North Walton-South
     Walton-Washington.

GA...Flood Watch through Monday morning for Baker-Calhoun-Clay-
     Decatur-Dougherty-Early-Lee-Miller-Mitchell-Quitman-
     Randolph-Seminole-Terrell-Worth.

AL...Flood Watch through late tonight for Coffee-Dale-Geneva-Henry-
     Houston.

GM...None.

&&

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

The radar

The Ft Rucker radar (KEOX), 52 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:44 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 flood, 1 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Houston

When: February 11, 3:42 AM CST to 3:48 AM CST
Where: Houston County, 2.17 mi S of Madrid to 2.72 mi WSW of Sealy Springs
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2.81 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.999, -85.386

A tornado touched down in northwest Jackson county and briefly moved into far southern Houston county. Structural damage was minimal with minor roof damage in Graceville in Jackson county. There was no reported structural damage in Houston county as the tornado tracked through a forested area. Trees were also blown down along the track with a dual-pol tornadic debris signature observed on radar in far southern Houston county due to tree debris. This tornado was rated EF0 with max winds estimated at 65 mph based on the observed damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Houston

When: February 11, 4:15 AM CST
Where: Houston County, Pansey
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.150, -85.170

Minor shingle damage was reported in the Pansey area.

Flood, Geneva

When: February 11, 7:00 PM CST to February 12, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Geneva County, 3.01 mi SSE of Samson Logan Municipal Arpt to 3.14 mi SSE of Samson Logan Municipal Arpt
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 31.060, -86.040

Rosewood Road was closed due to flooding from a long duration of moderate to occasionally heavy rain. This road intersects with a small stream that likely overflowed.

Flood, Houston

When: February 11, 7:00 PM CST to February 12, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Houston County, 1.72 mi SE of Dothan to 1.76 mi SE of Dothan
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 31.204, -85.367

A portion of Haven Dr at Ross Clark Circle was covered in water due to a long duration of moderate to occasionally heavy rain.

Flood, Houston

When: February 11, 7:00 PM CST to February 12, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Houston County, 1.05 mi WNW of Jones Crossroads to 1.09 mi WNW of Jones Crossroads
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 31.216, -85.496

Standing water on Carnegie street resulted in the asphalt rising from recent road work and caused a 1 foot deep hole. This was due to a long duration of moderate to occasionally heavy rainfall. Damage cost was estimated.

Flood, Houston

When: February 11, 7:00 PM CST to February 12, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Houston County, 2.65 mi W of Kinsey to 2.56 mi WNW of Kinsey
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 31.296, -85.374

Suggs Road was completely closed due to flooding from a long duration of moderate to occasionally heavy rain. This road is near a small creek that likely overflowed.

What these are

Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alabama in 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Alabama, 2018 Warnings in Alabama, February 2018

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: 736405, 736406, 736412, 736413, 736414, 736415.