Rip Current in Florida, June 3, 2018

Name: Rip Current in Florida, June 3, 2018
Start: 2018-06-03T11:17
End: 2018-06-03T11:17
Location: Florida

June 3, 2018 · NWS TAE · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A 38 year old male went into the water to rescue his parents, who had been swept out by a rip current. His parents made it back in, but the son drowned.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths: 1
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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.

A 38 year old male went into the water to rescue his parents, who had been swept out by a rip current. His parents made it back in, but the son drowned. His body was recovered on a personal watercraft. Resuscitation by EMS and first responders was attempted with no success. Beach flags for the area were red, but there are no flags in the vicinity of the drowning.

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 Jun 3, 9:27 AM EST, 1 hour 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 3, 9:27 AM EST, 1 hour 50 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1027 AM EDT Sun Jun 3 2018

.UPDATE...

Training echoes across portions of Dixie County this morning has
resulted in the issuance of a Flash Flood Warning. Radar
estimates four inches of rain has fallen near Horseshoe Beach
since 7 am. The 12z KTAE sounding is very moist and moderately
unstable so expect to see more convection develop this afternoon
across the Tri-state region ahead of a cold front. Some of the
storms could be strong to severe. See more details on this in the
near term section below. No changes were made to the forecast.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION [604 AM EDT]...

.NEAR TERM [Through Today]...

A cold front will move into the area today with northwest flow
aloft. The thermodynamic environment ahead of the front will be
explosive with SBCAPE values over 3000 j/kg supported by steep 700-
500 mb lapse rates over 7 C/km and low to mid 70s dewpoints. Some
mid level dry air will also aide in boosting the Wet Microburst
Severity Index (WMSI) values into the 100-150 range, which is quite
high considering values near 80 are correlated with 50 knot wind
gusts. Overall, the main question about today is the initiation and
subsequent coverage of convection. An ensemble of convection
allowing models indicates that a later start to scattered convection
is possible this afternoon compared to Saturday with convection
lasting later into the evening hours as well. The highest coverage
is currently expected to be across the western half of the area
across southeast Alabama and the Florida panhandle. However, with
such a favorable thermodynamic environment expected to be in place
across the entire area, any storms that develop this afternoon could
become severe with damaging downburst wind gusts of 60-70 mph
possible anywhere in the forecast area. As such, the potential for
damaging winds was explicitly mentioned in the point and click
forecast for today across the areas where SPC has the marginal risk
in place. The main reason that there isn't anything higher than a
marginal risk across the forecast area is due to uncertainty with
the coverage of convection. Should it become more apparent that
convective coverage will be higher, then an upgrade to the risk
category could occur later today.

The other item of note today will be rather high heat index values.
Highs in the mid 90s coupled with those low-mid 70s dewpoints will
push max heat index values into the 102-107 degree range across the
area this afternoon. This is still a bit below the local heat
advisory criteria of 108-112, but it will definitely be a hot one
today.

.SHORT TERM [Tonight Through Tuesday]...

Convection from this afternoon will linger into the overnight
hours. The MLCAPE will still be elevated (staying over 2000 J/kg
in some areas), so the threat for severe weather won't diminish
after sunset, but will gradually decrease through the night. The
cold front driving these storms will continue to push southeast,
exiting our area Monday evening. On Tuesday, the front will then
stall out over central Florida. Daytime temperatures will still
peak in the upper 80s and low 90s Monday and Tuesday, but
overnight temperatures will drop into the mid 60s Monday night.

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

A drier airmass will move into place behind the cold front, but
with typical summer daytime heating, temperatures will still warm
into the low 90s through the week. With that kind of warmth,
isolated seabreeze convection still can't be ruled out, so PoPs
will remain around 20%. As we head into the weekend, an upper
level trough will move into place over the Gulf and build into a
more disturbed pattern again.

.AVIATION...

[Through 12z Monday] Some patchy fog and/or low ceilings early this
morning will occasionally reduce conditions down to the MVFR to LIFR
range for a few hours, but VFR conditions are expected to prevail
for most of the period. However, scattered convection is expected
during the afternoon and early evening hours, and some of the storms
may be severe.

.MARINE...

Moderate westerly flow will become northerly Monday night in the
wake of a cold front, then will return to a more typical
summertime pattern with onshore flow in the afternoons and
westerly flow at night.

.FIRE WEATHER...

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

.HYDROLOGY...

Widespread rainfall totals for the next week will be one inch or
less, mostly falling today and tonight with a cold front passage.
The Withlacoochee River at Valdosta is currently cresting just
above minor flood stage and is forecast to gradually fall through
action stage this week. Many other area rivers remain in action
stage, but are not expected to reach flood stage as a result of
rainfall this week.

.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   94  75  92  66  92 /  50  20  20   0   0
Panama City   89  76  88  71  86 /  40  20  10   0   0
Dothan        94  70  89  65  90 /  60  40  10   0   0
Albany        94  71  89  65  90 /  50  40  10   0   0
Valdosta      94  73  91  65  90 /  40  20  20   0   0
Cross City    92  76  90  68  90 /  50  20  30  10   0
Apalachicola  91  76  90  70  87 /  20  20  20   0   0

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...High Rip Current Risk through this evening for Coastal Bay-
     Coastal Gulf-South Walton.

GA...None.
AL...None.
GM...None.
&&

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

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 3, 5:17 AM EST, 6 hours before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
617 AM EDT SUN JUN 3 2018

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

0325 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WOODVILLE               30.32N 84.25W
06/02/2018                   LEON               FL   PUBLIC

            SEVERAL LARGE LIMBS DOWN AND SOME SNAPPED
            TREES REPORTED IN THE WOODVILLE AREA. ONE
            LARGE LIMB DAMAGED A CAR.

&&

DVD

Local storm report, Jun 3, 5:18 AM EST, 5 hours 59 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
618 AM EDT SUN JUN 3 2018

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

0155 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ALBANY                  31.58N 84.18W
06/02/2018                   DOUGHERTY          GA   911 CALL CENTER

            REPORT OF A TREE FALLING ON A VEHICLE IN THE
            ALBANY AREA.

0218 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MOULTRIE                31.18N 83.79W
06/02/2018                   COLQUITT           GA   911 CALL CENTER

            REPORTS OF TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN WITHIN
            THE CITY OF MOULTRIE.

0218 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SOUTH MOULTRIE          31.16N 83.77W
06/02/2018                   COLQUITT           GA   PUBLIC

            METAL SHED DESTROYED AND BLOWN 75-100 YARDS.

0224 PM     TSTM WND DMG     GREENWOOD               30.87N 85.16W
06/02/2018                   JACKSON            FL   911 CALL CENTER

            REPORTS OF TREES DOWN IN THE GREENWOOD AREA.

0242 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LENOX                   31.28N 83.47W
06/02/2018                   COOK               GA   PUBLIC

            REPORTS OF TREES DOWN AROUND LENOX.

0318 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NAYLOR                  30.91N 83.08W
06/02/2018                   LOWNDES            GA   911 CALL CENTER

            REPORTS OF TREES DOWN IN LOWNDES COUNTY.

0320 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 SW MEIGS              31.04N 83.14W
06/02/2018                   LANIER             GA   PUBLIC

            TREE DOWN ACROSS HIGHWAY 122 BETWEEN
            LAKELAND AND WALKERS CROSSING NEAR BANKS
            LAKE.

0324 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LAKELAND                31.04N 83.08W
06/02/2018                   LANIER             GA   911 CALL CENTER

            REPORTS OF NUMEROUS TREES DOWN THROUGHOUT
            LANIER COUNTY.

0325 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WOODVILLE               30.32N 84.25W
06/02/2018                   LEON               FL   PUBLIC

            SEVERAL LARGE LIMBS DOWN AND SOME SNAPPED
            TREES REPORTED IN THE WOODVILLE AREA. ONE
            LARGE LIMB DAMAGED A CAR.

0330 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 N NAYLOR              30.95N 83.08W
06/02/2018                   LANIER             GA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            OVERTURNED FARM EQUIPMENT ALONG HIGHWAY 135
            SOUTH NEAR THE LOWNDES-LANIER COUNTY BORDER.

0420 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 WSW LEE               30.40N 83.36W
06/02/2018                   MADISON            FL   911 CALL CENTER

            TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ACROSS MADISON
            COUNTY.

0428 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SE PERRY              30.11N 83.58W
06/02/2018                   TAYLOR             FL   911 CALL CENTER

            TREE AND POWER LINE REPORTED DOWN NEAR HWY
            27 AND SAN PEDRO.

0446 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SKIPPERVILLE            31.56N 85.55W
06/02/2018                   DALE               AL   911 CALL CENTER

            TREE DOWN ON HWY 105 NEAR SKIPPERVILLE.

0518 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NEWVILLE                31.42N 85.34W
06/02/2018                   HENRY              AL   911 CALL CENTER

            3 TREES REPORTED DOWN IN THE NEWVILLE AREA.

0605 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SSE BLAKELY           31.36N 84.92W
06/02/2018                   EARLY              GA   PUBLIC

            TREES REPORTED DOWN IN BLAKELY.

0606 PM     TSTM WND DMG     DONALDSONVILLE A/P      31.01N 84.88W
06/02/2018                   SEMINOLE           GA   911 CALL CENTER

            TREE REPORTED DOWN JUST SOUTH OF
            DONALDSONVILLE.

0636 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 S HAYNES              30.80N 84.94W
06/02/2018                   JACKSON            FL   911 CALL CENTER

            TREE REPORTED DOWN ON RIVER AND BUTLER RD.

0654 PM     TSTM WND DMG     FACEVILLE               30.75N 84.64W
06/02/2018                   DECATUR            GA   911 CALL CENTER

            TREE REPORTED DOWN ON QUINCY HWY AND
            BETTSTOWN RD.

&&

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 rip current. Local standard time, as filed.

Rip Current, Coastal Gulf

When: June 3, 11:17 AM EST
Where: Coastal Gulf forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 29.909, -85.261 (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
Rip Current, Coastal Gulf	2018-06-03	38	Male	In Water	Direct

What these are

Rip Current: A narrow, fast current flowing away from the beach that caused a drowning or rescue.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Florida in 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history Warnings in Florida, June 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: 763714.