Several swimmers were caught by a rip current at the St. Joseph Peninsula State Park and taken 150 to 200 yards from shore.
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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.
The episode as NWS TAE wrote it up.
Several swimmers were caught by a rip current at the St. Joseph Peninsula State Park and taken 150 to 200 yards from shore. One 14 year old boy drowned as a result.
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 Jul 15, 5:52 PM EST, 1 hour 8 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tallahassee FL 652 PM EDT Wed Jul 15 2020 .AVIATION... [Through 00Z Friday] Thunderstorms have mostly diminished but will likely stay in the vicinity of ABY through about 01z. Added MVFR conditions to only VLD tonight, otherwise it will be VFR. More thunderstorms expected Thursday and included a PROB30. && .PREV DISCUSSION [423 PM EDT]... .NEAR TERM [Through Tonight]... Showers and thunderstorms continue to form along their outflow boundaries pushed northward very slowly by a weak sea breeze. The storms already spread across the FL Panhandle and SE AL. The atmosphere is very unstable in GA so the outflows from the storms in SE AL will likely initiate storms in GA soon. The storms have produced fairly deep cores and downburst signatures but nothing has indicated any severe winds yet, more like 40-50 MPH and possibly some pea size hail. The outflow boundaries themselves are producing 30-40 MPH winds. These storms are moving very slowly so expect some minor flooding and ponding of water in low lying areas. The storms will diminish by midnight leaving low temperatures in the lower to mid 70s. .SHORT TERM [Thursday Through Saturday]... Another round of showers and thunderstorms will be possible tomorrow afternoon, though the overall activity is looking to be shifted slightly north compared to today, especially slightly inland along the seabreeze. Afternoon showers and thunderstorms will then be slightly decreased heading into the weekend as high pressure begins to set up across the eastern US. Temperatures are expected to continually top out in the mid to upper 90s, with heat indexes actually decreasing slightly Friday and Saturday due to the slightly drier air in place. Activity those days will likely start a bit later in the day and be focused along the east coast seabreeze. .LONG TERM [Saturday Night Through Wednesday]... As easterly flow continues along the southern edge of an elongating high, the influx in moisture will bring us back to a more usual summertime pattern by Sunday, with a return to daily afternoon convection thereafter. An uptick in heat indicies will also accompany the increase in moisture. .MARINE... Outside of thunderstorm influence this evening, mostly quiet boating conditions are expected. Winds will generally be around 5 to 10 knots and seas around 2 feet or less. Easterly winds will increase this weekend, with an increased likelihood of afternoon shower and thunderstorm activity beginning Sunday. .FIRE WEATHER... Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue through Friday. Winds will become more southerly Thursday and turn easterly on Friday. Hazardous fire weather conditions are not expected over the next few days. .HYDROLOGY... Flooding concerns will remain low for most areas over the next few days with normal afternoon thunderstorm development expected. As with most summer convection, isolated flooding is a possibility in any slower moving storms. Areas that have had multiple days of significant precipitation could begin to see some minor flooding with additional rainfall. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not requested. However, spotters are always encouraged to safely report significant weather conditions when they occur (while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines) by calling the office or tweeting us @NWSTallahassee. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Tallahassee 74 96 73 96 73 / 10 40 10 20 0 Panama City 76 91 76 92 76 / 10 30 10 20 0 Dothan 73 93 73 93 73 / 20 40 10 20 0 Albany 75 94 74 95 74 / 40 40 0 20 0 Valdosta 74 94 72 93 72 / 30 40 0 20 0 Cross City 73 94 72 93 73 / 20 30 10 30 10 Apalachicola 76 90 76 90 76 / 10 20 10 10 10 && .TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. GA...None. AL...None. GM...None. && NEAR TERM...LN SHORT TERM...Humphreys LONG TERM...Humphreys AVIATION...LN MARINE...Humphreys FIRE WEATHER...Oliver HYDROLOGY...Humphreys
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Tallahassee FL 111 PM CDT Wed Jul 15 2020 ALZ065-066-068-069-151845- Dale AL-Coffee AL-Geneva AL-Houston AL- 111 PM CDT Wed Jul 15 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN DALE...SOUTHEASTERN COFFEE...NORTHEASTERN GENEVA AND NORTHWESTERN HOUSTON COUNTIES UNTIL 145 PM CDT... At 110 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Level Plains, or near Daleville, moving west at 10 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Daleville, Enterprise, Fort Rucker, Hartford, Level Plains, Clayhatchee, Coffee Springs, Chancellor, Knox Field, Lucile, Gerald, Central City, Hendrix Crossroad, Goodman, Cairns Aaf, Enterprise Municipal A/P, Wicksburg, High Bluff, Highfalls and Lowe Army Heliport. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. && LAT...LON 3139 8573 3121 8555 3104 8582 3128 8602 TIME...MOT...LOC 1810Z 090DEG 19KT 3123 8578 13-LN
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
216 PM EDT Wed Jul 15 2020
FLZ010-012-112-151845-
Coastal Bay FL-Inland Bay FL-Washington FL-
216 PM EDT Wed Jul 15 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN BAY AND SOUTHEASTERN
WASHINGTON COUNTIES UNTIL 245 PM EDT/145 PM CDT/...
At 216 PM EDT/116 PM CDT/, Doppler radar was tracking a strong
thunderstorm 9 miles northeast of Lynn Haven, moving north at 5 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Panama City, Lynn Haven, Callaway, Springfield, Hiland Park, Parker,
Nixon, Bayhead, Southport, Cedar Grove, Dirego Park, Bay Harbor,
Recota Beach, College Station, Saunders, Bayou George, Camp Flowers,
Gainer Spring, Bennett and Youngstown.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3048 8565 3042 8539 3034 8539 3012 8554
3014 8566
TIME...MOT...LOC 1816Z 197DEG 6KT 3034 8554
13-LNSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Tallahassee FL 140 PM CDT Wed Jul 15 2020 ALZ065-066-069-151915- Dale AL-Coffee AL-Houston AL- 140 PM CDT Wed Jul 15 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR DALE...COFFEE AND NORTHWESTERN HOUSTON COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM CDT... At 139 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Enterprise, moving north at 10 mph. Additional strong thunderstorms are location in western Coffee county and far northern Dale county. Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Daleville, Elba, Enterprise, Fort Rucker, Ozark, Level Plains, Newton, New Brockton, Ariton, Pinckard, Clayhatchee, Mixons Crossroads, Hunt Field, Waterford, Hooper Stage Field, Gerald, Central City, Camp Humming Hills, Clintonville and Ewell. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. && LAT...LON 3162 8557 3120 8553 3120 8602 3162 8604 TIME...MOT...LOC 1839Z 181DEG 45KT 3135 8582 13-LN
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
215 PM CDT Wed Jul 15 2020
ALZ066-067-069-151945-
Dale AL-Henry AL-Houston AL-
215 PM CDT Wed Jul 15 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN DALE...SOUTHWESTERN
HENRY AND CENTRAL HOUSTON COUNTIES UNTIL 245 PM CDT...
At 215 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Cowarts, or 8 miles north of Cottonwood, moving north at 10 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Cottonwood, Headland, Dothan, Midland City, Kinsey, Ashford, Cowarts,
Webb, Pinckard, Grimes, Avon, Napier Field, Gordon, Memphis, Pansey,
Tumbleton, Sigma, Grandberry Crossroads, Enon and Wilson Mill.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3142 8523 3120 8510 3119 8511 3118 8510
3116 8510 3104 8535 3133 8553
TIME...MOT...LOC 1915Z 167DEG 11KT 3117 8529
13-LNSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
519 PM EDT Wed Jul 15 2020
GAZ144-145-152145-
Baker GA-Mitchell GA-
519 PM EDT Wed Jul 15 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN MITCHELL AND CENTRAL
BAKER COUNTIES UNTIL 545 PM EDT...
At 519 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Newton, moving north at 15 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Newton, Hoggard Mill, Hawkinstown, Elmodel Wma, Mimsville and
Hopeful.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3143 8431 3117 8426 3110 8447 3123 8454
3125 8454 3126 8455 3134 8460
TIME...MOT...LOC 2119Z 167DEG 12KT 3125 8442
13-LNThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 rip current. Local standard time, as filed.
Several swimmers were caught by a rip current at the St. Joseph Peninsula State Park and taken 150 to 200 yards from shore. One 14 year old boy drowned as a result.
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 | 2020-07-15 | 14 | Male | In Water | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, July 2020
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: 895649.