Florida, 2018

Flash Flood and Flood in Florida, August 13, 2018

August 13, 2018 · NWS TAE · 6 events in 3 counties and zones

Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms occurred across the area. As is typical with summer storms in this part of the country, some of the storms were marginally severe with impacts to trees and power lines.

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
$3,000
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.

Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms occurred across the area. As is typical with summer storms in this part of the country, some of the storms were marginally severe with impacts to trees and power lines.

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 Aug 13, 4:57 AM EST, 3 hours 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 13, 4:57 AM EST, 3 hours 3 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
557 AM EDT Mon Aug 13 2018

.AVIATION [Through 12Z Tuesday]...

VFR conditions and light winds are expected to prevail through the
period. However, brief periods of MVFR/IFR conditions are possible
this afternoon due to scattered showers and thunderstorms. The best
chance for seeing a storm will be at ECP, TLH, and VLD.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION [301 AM EDT]...

.NEAR TERM [Through Today]...

The overnight analysis shows a closed upper low near Pittsburgh with
light northwest flow aloft across the local area. At the surface, a
weak frontal boundary stretches from northern Alabama across north-
central Georgia and into the Carolinas. As we head through the day,
this weak boundary is expected to drift slowly southward. Ample deep
layer moisture exists along the Gulf coast with precipitable water
values near 2 inches. Much drier air exists just north of the area.

Given the deep moisture in place with weak forcing, expect scattered
to numerous showers and thunderstorms to develop during the mid to
late afternoon hours, especially across the southern half of the
area where higher moisture exists. PoPs are forecast around 60
percent for a large part of the Florida panhandle, big bend, and far
southern Georgia with sea breeze activity. Farther north, slightly
drier air is expected to result in slightly less activity with PoPs
in the 30-50 percent range. Afternoon high temperatures in the low
to mid 90s are expected for most of the area, except upper 80s to
near 90 along the beaches.

.SHORT TERM [Tonight Through Wednesday]...

In the upper levels a trough is over the Eastern U.S. A ridge will
build in on Tuesday night. At the surface a weak stationary boundary
will remain over the region or just north of the region. There will
be plenty of low level moisture as southerly flow continues near the
surface. PW values are forecast to be 2 inches or more on Tuesday
and Wednesday. Afternoon/evening shower and thunderstorm activity
will be fairly widespread with POPs of 50 to 70 percent forecast for
most of the region. Most of the activity will dissipate shortly
after sunset. Highs will be near 90. Lows will be in the lower
70s.

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

In the upper levels a weak ridge will be over the region until a
weak trough moves in this weekend. At the surface a weak pressure
gradient will be over the region with low pressure near the Great
Lakes and high pressure over the Atlantic. POPs will be seasonable
with 30 to 50 percent forecast everyday in the afternoon/evening.
Highs will be in the low 90s. Lows will be in the low to mid 70s.

.MARINE...

Light southwesterly winds are expected through this weekend. Seas
will be low around 1 to 2 feet. The wet pattern continues through at
least Wednesday. Thunderstorms can bring rapidly increasing winds
and seas.

.FIRE WEATHER...

Red flag conditions will not occur over the next several days with
relative humidity remaining above critical levels across the area.

.HYDROLOGY...

Most local rivers are steady or falling at this time. A few rivers
are in action stage. The wet pattern continues through at least
Wednesday with 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain forecast through Wednesday.
The rest of the week rain chances are not as high.

.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   93  74  90  74  90 /  60  30  70  30  50
Panama City   92  76  89  76  89 /  60  20  40  30  40
Dothan        93  73  91  73  90 /  50  30  50  30  40
Albany        93  73  91  73  91 /  40  20  40  30  30
Valdosta      92  73  91  73  91 /  60  30  50  30  50
Cross City    89  74  89  74  90 /  60  30  50  20  30
Apalachicola  89  77  88  77  88 /  50  30  40  30  40

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...None.
GA...None.
AL...None.
GM...None.
&&

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

The radar

The Tallahassee radar (KTLH), 76 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Flood, Taylor

When
August 13, 8:00 AM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where
Taylor County, 3.51 mi S of Hampton Springs to 3.08 mi SW of Hampton Springs
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
30.030, -83.660

Video of standing water on Courtney Grade Road was posted to the Taylor County EM facebook page. Radar estimates around 3.5 inches of rain in the previous 24 hours across the area. This rain on top of saturated soils resulted in minor flooding across the area in the form of areas of standing water.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When
August 13, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Washington County, Ebro
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
30.440, -85.870

Trees were blown down in the Ebro area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bay

When
August 13, 2:56 PM CST
Where
Bay County, Lynn Haven
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
30.230, -85.640

A tree was uprooted in Lynn Haven.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bay

When
August 13, 2:56 PM CST
Where
Bay County, 0.28 mi NW of Lynn Haven
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
30.233, -85.643

Damage to fencing occurred at Cain Griffin Park in Lynn Haven.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bay

When
August 13, 2:56 PM CST
Where
Bay County, Southport
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
30.280, -85.640

Trees were blown down in Southport.

Flash Flood, Bay

When
August 13, 3:45 PM CST to 4:15 PM CST
Where
Bay County, 1.58 mi NNW of Dirego Park to 1.63 mi NNW of Dirego Park
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
30.202, -85.647

Several classrooms were flooded at Haney Technical Center with several other reports of flooded roads in the area. Some roads had standing water estimated up to 2.5 feet deep. Rainfall of 3-4 inches occurred in one hour across the area with one report of 2.5 inches of rain in 15 minutes. Water rose very rapidly and also receded very rapidly when the rain ended.

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
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.
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

More

Every storm in Florida in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, August 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: 766122, 766123, 766124, 766125, 766126, 766127.