Tropical Storm and Flash Flooding in Florida, May 28, 2018

Name: Tropical Storm and Flash Flooding in Florida, May 28, 2018
Start: 2018-05-28T10:00
End: 2018-05-28T22:00
Location: Florida

May 28, 2018 · NWS TAE · 16 events in 15 counties and zones

Subtropical Storm Alberto affected portions of the Florida panhandle and southeast Alabama on May 28th. County by county impacts are as follows.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 12 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: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 16

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.

Subtropical Storm Alberto affected portions of the Florida panhandle and southeast Alabama on May 28th. County by county impacts are as follows.

In Walton county, construction barrels were blown onto Highway 98 in Miramar Beach. A tree fell and knocked down power lines across the road at 186 Fine Hill Dr in De Funiak Springs. Trees were blown down at Spence Dr and Highway 81, at Oak Grove Road and County Road 181E, and at South Jackson Street. Flooding was reported in Santa Rosa Beach near the intersection of County Highway 395 and East Point Washington Road and along Flounder Street and Dolphin Way. Inlet Beach Park beach access road flooded on Lakeshore Drive.

In Taylor county, the Steinhatchee boat ramp flooded with some minor overwash into the adjacent parking lot. On the Aucilla River, the boat ramp at Mandalay Bay was washed off pilings onto dry line.

In Wakulla county, there were approximately 40 trees and power lines blown down and a few low lying roads flooded. There was one report of damage to a structure from a tree falling. For the St. Mark River at Highway 98, there was 1.5 feet of inundation at the Newport boat ramp. In the town of St. Marks, Riverside Drive was flooded up to a 1 foot depth and inundation extended from Riverfront up to 1000 ft inland northward along Port Leon Drive. Water entered a restaurant. Old Fort Road and areas near the fort flooded with peak inundations with 2.5 ft. There was minor erosion at Shell Point Beach. There were five homes with water underneath them on Beatty Taff Drive. Mashes Sand Beach from the beach front westward to Blue Crab Road was flooded. Peak inundation near the beach front was 2.5 ft. Inundation covered up to 3000 ft along the road. Two homes at ground level had water reach an exterior wall, but no water entered the structures.

In Franklin county, Alligator Point Road was overwashed during the peak storm surge. In Eastpoint, flooding affected the east end of the causeway to Apalachicola, Buck Street, the beach near Reed Court, and water was up to the rock at 10th Street and Highway 98. In Apalachicola, the marina and Water Street flooded. The beaches were also underwater at the east end of the St. George Island Plantation.

In Coffee county, trees were down County Roads 321 and 342 near Elba, Highway 87 near Fuller Brothers, Highway 87 at MM 34, Highway 189 near Perry Store, County Road 153 near Tabernacle, and County Road 248 near Weeks Bridge in New Brockton. Power lines were down on Lee Street in New Brockton, Elba near Weeks Tire, and in the downtown areas of Elba and Enterprise.

In Houston County, there were a few downed trees and a short power outage. One tree partially blocked Brannon Stand Road on the west side of Dothan.

In Holmes county, there were a couple of reports of trees down blocking roadways at Carter Mack and Old Mill. An oak tree also fell onto a mobile home.

In Jackson county, around eight trees were blown down with a few small power outages.

In Liberty county, there were small and sporadic power outages.

In Leon county, around 9000 homes lost power in Tallahassee due to downed trees and limbs.

In Jefferson county, a tree fell onto a car on I-10, resulting in two serious injuries.

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 May 28, 8:48 AM EST, 1 hour 12 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 28, 8:48 AM EST, 1 hour 12 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
948 AM EDT Mon May 28 2018

.NEAR TERM [Through Today]...

Radar data from KEVX and KTLH show the center of Alberto nearing
the Florida Panhandle coast. Over the last couple of hours,
several stations near the coast in Gulf and Franklin Counties have
reported gusts to tropical storm force, with a couple of sites
reporting sustained tropical storm force winds on St George Island.
Conditions along coastal areas in the Florida Panhandle will
continue to deteriorate as the rain bands from Alberto move
further inland.

Primary concern today is on the potential for flash flooding,
particularly across the western portions of the area. An
additional concern will be the potential for tornadoes. Low level
shear profiles are especially favorable and some cells within the
feeder band from east of Tallahassee down through the Southeast
Florida Big Bend have showed signs of rotation. Anticipate that
this threat will continue through the day and eventually move into
Southern Georgia.

Made a few minor tweaks to the PoP forecast to account for radar
trends and expected evolution of the system throughout the day. No
other adjustments are planned at this time.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION [623 AM EDT]...

.SHORT TERM [Tonight Through Wednesday]...

By Monday night the center of Alberto will be over land near the
AL/FL border. By Monday night it will be weakening and moving
northward. NHC predicts it will still be a tropical storm on Monday
evening. Winds will decrease on Monday night. Heavy rain will
continue through at least Tuesday evening with POPs of 80 to 100
percent in SW Georgia, the FL Panhandle and SE Alabama. POPs will
remain elevated on Tuesday night and Wednesday as warm moist
southerly low level flow continues. The flooding threat should be
decreasing by Tuesday night as Alberto weakens and moves into TN.
Skies will remain cloudy after Alberto passes. Lows will be in the
low to mid 70s. Highs will be in the 80s. Heat indices will be in
the lower 90s.

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

In the upper levels a trough will be over the Eastern U.S. A ridge
will be over the Central U.S. At the surface remnants of Alberto
will be near the Great Lakes on Wednesday night and Thursday. Warm
moist southerly low level flow will continue through Friday.
Nighttime POPs will be 20 to 40 percent. Daytime POPs will be 40 to
60 percent. Mostly cloudy skies will continue. Lows will be in the
lower 70s. Highs will be in the upper 80s. Heat indices will be in
the 90s.

.AVIATION [Through 12Z Tuesday]...

Subtropical storm Alberto will impact aviation across the Tri-
State region the next 24 hours. Projected landfall is on the
Walton/Okaloosa county line this afternoon then continue heading
north. The low level wind field will increase as Alberto gets
closer with gusts to 40-50 knots especially at ECP and possibly at
DHN (both closet to the track). 35 knot gusts at TLH and 30 knots
at ABY/VLD. SHRA/TSRA will increase this morning through the end
of the TAF. Flt conds will be in the IFR or low MVFR at times
through the period.

.MARINE...

Tropical storm warnings are out for the entire marine area.
Tropical storm conditions are expected through Monday. Mariners
should remain in safe harbor until the storm passes early next
week.

.FIRE WEATHER...

No concerns.

.HYDROLOGY...

An additional 5 to 7 inches of rain is expected in the Florida
Panhandle and parts of SE Alabama through Tuesday evening. Big Bend
Florida will get 2 to 6 inches, the higher amounts will be the
westernmost portions. Southwest Georgia will get 2 to 4 inches.
Alberto is expected to slow down as it approaches the coast today.
Rain bands will likely train over the same areas this morning and
early afternoon as Alberto makes landfall. Flash flooding is
likely today and tomorrow.

Local rivers will continue to rise with heavy rainfall on the way.
Flood warnings are out for the Pea River at Ariton and the
Choctawhatchee River at Geneva, Caryville and Bruce. The heaviest
rainfall will be on Monday and Tuesday but the wet pattern will
continue through the weekend.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is requested. Spotters should safely report
significant weather conditions and/or damage by calling the office or
tweeting us @NWSTallahassee.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...

Tallahassee   81  75  84  73  85 / 100  80  70  40  60
Panama City   80  75  83  76  84 / 100  90  80  40  50
Dothan        80  72  84  73  85 / 100 100  90  50  50
Albany        83  72  84  73  86 /  80  80  90  40  60
Valdosta      82  73  86  72  85 /  80  50  60  30  60
Cross City    83  74  85  73  84 /  80  50  50  40  70
Apalachicola  81  77  84  76  83 / 100  80  70  40  50

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Tropical Storm Warning for Calhoun-Central Walton-Coastal Bay-
     Coastal Dixie-Coastal Franklin-Coastal Gulf-Coastal
     Jefferson-Coastal Taylor-Coastal Wakulla-Holmes-Inland Bay-
     Inland Franklin-Inland Gulf-Jackson-Liberty-North Walton-
     South Walton-Washington.

     Flash Flood Watch through Tuesday morning for Calhoun-Central
     Walton-Coastal Bay-Coastal Franklin-Coastal Gulf-Coastal
     Jefferson-Coastal Taylor-Coastal Wakulla-Gadsden-Holmes-
     Inland Bay-Inland Franklin-Inland Gulf-Inland Jefferson-
     Inland Taylor-Inland Wakulla-Jackson-Leon-Liberty-North
     Walton-South Walton-Washington.

     High Rip Current Risk through late Tuesday night for Coastal Bay-
     Coastal Franklin-Coastal Gulf-South Walton.

     High Surf Warning until 8 AM EDT /7 AM CDT/ Tuesday for Coastal
     Bay-Coastal Gulf-South Walton.

     High Surf Warning until 8 PM EDT this evening for Coastal
     Franklin.

GA...Flash Flood Watch through Tuesday morning for Clay-Decatur-Early-
     Grady-Miller-Quitman-Seminole.

AL...Tropical Storm Warning for Coffee-Dale-Geneva-Henry-Houston.

     Flash Flood Watch through Tuesday morning for Coffee-Dale-Geneva-
     Henry-Houston.

GM...Tropical Storm 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 FL
     out 20 NM-Coastal waters from Mexico Beach to Apalachicola
     FL out 20 NM-Coastal waters from Mexico Beach to Okaloosa
     Walton County Line FL out 20 NM-Waters from Suwannee River
     to Apalachicola FL from 20 to 60 NM-Waters from
     Apalachicola to Mexico Beach FL from 20 to 60 NM-Waters
     from Mexico Beach to Okaloosa Walton County Line FL from 20
     to 60 NM.

&&

NEAR TERM...Godsey
SHORT TERM...McD
LONG TERM...McD
AVIATION...Scholl
MARINE...McD
FIRE WEATHER...Scholl
HYDROLOGY...McD

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 28, 8:51 AM EST, 1 hour 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
951 AM EDT MON MAY 28 2018

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

0900 AM     TROPICAL STORM   APALACHICOLA            29.73N 84.98W
05/28/2018                   FRANKLIN           FL   BUOY

            BUOY STATION APCF1, APALACHICOLA MEASURED A
            44 MPH GUST.

&&

DH

Local storm report, May 28, 8:54 AM EST, 1 hour 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
954 AM EDT MON MAY 28 2018

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

0945 AM     TROPICAL STORM   3 NNW SAINT GEORGE ISLA 29.70N 84.89W
05/28/2018                   FRANKLIN           FL   MESONET

            ST. GEORGE ISLAND BRIDGE HAS MEASURED A
            SUSTAINED WIND OF 47 MPH AND A HIGH GUST OF
            52 MPH.

&&

DH

Local storm report, May 28, 9:26 AM EST, 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1026 AM EDT MON MAY 28 2018

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

1018 AM     TROPICAL STORM   4 WSW SAINT TERESA      29.92N 84.51W
05/28/2018                   FRANKLIN           FL   MESONET

            FSU MARINE LAB WEATHERSTEM SITE MEASURED A
            SUSTAINED WIND OF 37 MPH WITH A GUST TO 44
            MPH.

&&

DH

Local storm report, May 28, 9:33 AM EST, 27 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1033 AM EDT MON MAY 28 2018

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

1027 AM     TROPICAL STORM   3 NW SAINT GEORGE ISLAN 29.69N 84.89W
05/28/2018                   GMZ755             FL   MESONET

            ST. GEORGE ISLAND BRIDGE WEATHERSTEM SITE
            MEASURED A 54 MPH GUST.

&&

DH

Local storm report, May 28, 9:45 AM EST, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1045 AM EDT MON MAY 28 2018

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

1000 AM     TROPICAL STORM   18 S SAINT GEORGE ISLAN 29.41N 84.86W
05/28/2018                   GMZ755             FL   BUOY

            BUOY STATION SGOF1, 18 S SAINT GEORGE ISLAND
            MEASURED A 54 MPH GUST.

&&

DH

Local storm report, May 28, 9:51 AM EST, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1051 AM EDT MON MAY 28 2018

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

1047 AM     TROPICAL STORM   PORT SAINT JOE          29.81N 85.29W
05/28/2018                   GULF               FL   MESONET

            THE GULF COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
            WEATHERSTEM SITE MEASURED A GUST OF 43 MPH.

&&

DH

The radar

The Tallahassee radar (KTLH), 28 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:58 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

14 tropical storm, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Tropical Storm, Inland Wakulla

When: May 28, 10:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Inland Wakulla forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.148, -84.376 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Coastal Wakulla

When: May 28, 10:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Wakulla forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.148, -84.376 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Liberty

When: May 28, 10:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Liberty forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, Coastal Gulf

When: May 28, 10:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Gulf forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 29.909, -85.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Inland Gulf

When: May 28, 10:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Inland Gulf forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 29.909, -85.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Calhoun

When: May 28, 10:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.406, -85.197 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Jackson

When: May 28, 10:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.795, -85.215 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Holmes

When: May 28, 10:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Holmes forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.868, -85.814 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Washington

When: May 28, 10:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.611, -85.665 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Inland Bay

When: May 28, 10:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Inland Bay forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.238, -85.633 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Coastal Bay

When: May 28, 10:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Bay forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.238, -85.633 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, North Walton

When: May 28, 10:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: North Walton forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Tropical Storm, South Walton

When: May 28, 10:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: South Walton forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.619, -86.171 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Central Walton

When: May 28, 10:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Central Walton forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.619, -86.171 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Walton

When: May 28, 3:00 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Walton County, 1.19 mi W of Blue Mountain Beach to 1.13 mi W of Blue Mountain Beach
Cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 30.340, -86.210

Flooding was reported along Flounder Street and Dolphin Way.

Flash Flood, Walton

When: May 28, 3:00 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Walton County, 1.38 mi WSW of Point Washington to 0.97 mi WSW of Point Washington
Cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 30.360, -86.130

Flooding was reported near the intersection of County Highway 395 and East Point Washington Road.

What these are

Tropical Storm: A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots (39 to 73 mph).
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

Every storm in Florida in 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history Warnings in Florida, May 2018 The 2018 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: 759486, 759487, 759489, 759490, 759491, 759492, 759493, 759494, 759495, 759496, 759497, 759498, 759499, 759500, 759484, 759485.