Flash Flooding and Hail in Florida, April 24, 2021

Name: Flash Flooding and Hail in Florida, April 24, 2021
Start: 2021-04-24T09:15
End: 2021-04-24T14:45
Location: Florida

April 24, 2021 · NWS TAE · 23 events in 7 counties and zones

Multiple rounds of strong to severe storms affected the region on April 24th. Tornadoes, large hail (some to 2 inches in diameter), and widespread damaging winds occurred.

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: $5,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 23

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.

Multiple rounds of strong to severe storms affected the region on April 24th. Tornadoes, large hail (some to 2 inches in diameter), and widespread damaging winds occurred. The multiple rounds also caused rainfall amounts in excess of 6 inches in some locations across the tri-state region, resulting in flash flooding.

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 Apr 24, 4:57 AM CST, 4 hours 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 24, 4:57 AM CST, 4 hours 18 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
657 AM EDT Sat Apr 24 2021

.AVIATION...
[Through 12Z Sunday]

A fairly complex weather day in store for the tri-state region
today. MCS is ongoing across southern Alabama which will move
into our area over the next few hours. The area will elongate
across southeast Al and southwest GA this morning with additional
convection developing through the day. Winds outside of convection
will increase today with sustained 15-20 knots and gusts 20-30
knots from the south and southwest. Severe thunderstorms are an
elevated risk with all severe threats possible. Low clouds will
continue developing in and around the MCS with primarily MVFR
developing with IFR and below cigs/vsbys underneath convection. As
far as ending time, expect from west to east beginning this
evening and later tonight over our eastern sections.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION [222 AM EDT]...

.NEAR TERM [Through Tonight]...

Today is looking like a rough day for the tri-state region. An
initial line of storms is expected to move rapidly eastward through
the morning hours across portions of southeast Alabama and southern
Georgia, perhaps clipping portions of the Florida panhandle. This
line could be severe with damaging winds, although it may tend to
outrace the return of instability the farther east it moves.
Nevertheless, it is expected to leave behind a boundary somewhere in
the forecast area that will be the focus for additional rounds of
showers and thunderstorms through the day. Models indicate decent
instability building through the day along this boundary with
favorable shear for severe storms. All forms of severe weather will
be possible, including tornadoes, damaging wind, and even large hail
given the sizable instability forecast. If that weren't enough, the
west-east orientation of the surface boundary may lead to training
convection with an attendant threat of flash flooding. A flash
flood watch has been issued for portions of the Florida panhandle
as well as all of our southeast Alabama and southwest and south
central Georgia counties. Finally, winds will be gusty today even
outside of thunderstorms with a strong low level jet in the area
and decent mixing. Peak gusts near 40 mph are possible, and a wind
advisory has also been issued for the entire forecast area.

Rounds of convection will continue into the evening hours before
finally tapering off from west to east late in the evening. It may
take until after midnight for convection to completely clear the
southeast big bend.

.SHORT TERM [Sunday Through Monday]...

A period of dry weather is in store Sunday and Monday with
anticyclonic northwest flow aloft, as winds gradually veer from
northwest to easterly, with northeast conus high pressure
nosing southward into the area. Temperatures will be slightly
above seasonal levels.

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

The area will remain under deep layer ridging through Wednesday,
with a continued stretch of dry weather.

The forecast becomes uncertain with the next storm system beginning
on Thursday and continuing through Saturday. There is considerable
spread between the GEFS and EPS. The EPS is deeper and thus slower
with the progression of the longwave trough, and attempts to develop
a cutoff low over the southeast conus. The GFS is also hinting at
this as well. A slower frontal passage/stalled front increases the
potential for heavy rainfall. Cannot rule out severe weather, but
the intersection of parameters is not favorable at this time, so
will continue to monitor.

Temperatures remain above average through Wednesday, then lowering
some due to cloud cover and showers thereafter.

.MARINE...

Southerly winds will remain at advisory levels into early tonight.
Meanwhile, significant wave heights will build to around 6 to 7 feet
west of the Ochlocknee River. Strong to severe thunderstorms are
possible today and tonight, prior to a cold frontal passage. Seas
will remain elevated on Sunday with northwest winds, and tranquil
boating conditions expected to return on Monday as seas decrease
below 3 feet and winds become easterly. However, that will be short
lived, as elevated easterly winds and seas are expected to return by
Tuesday and persist through Wednesday.

.FIRE WEATHER...

Red flag conditions are not expected for the next several days. An
area of low pressure will bring a wetting rain to the region today.

.HYDROLOGY...

Rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches are expected from portions of
Southeast Alabama and the adjacent Western FL Panhandle into
Southwest Georgia. Maximum amounts around 7 inches are possible.
These rainfall amounts over a short period of time could lead
to flash flooding today into early tonight and a Flash Flood
Watch has been issued. Rainfall amounts should taper off to
less than one inch over the remainder of the area. There is the
potential for some rivers to rise into action stage. Looking
ahead, additional rainfall is likely with the approach of the
next storm system Thursday into next weekend, especially
northwest of the FL Big Bend.

For more detailed information on specific river stages and
forecasts, visit: http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=tae.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is requested. Spotters should safely report
significant weather conditions and/or damage (while following all
local, state, and CDC guidelines) by calling the office or tweeting
us @NWSTallahassee.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...

Tallahassee   79  64  82  58  85 /  80  90   0   0   0
Panama City   78  64  79  60  81 /  80  70   0   0   0
Dothan        79  58  79  55  82 / 100  50   0   0   0
Albany        80  60  80  55  83 / 100  70   0   0   0
Valdosta      82  64  82  57  85 /  80  90   0   0   0
Cross City    83  68  83  59  86 /  30  90  10   0   0
Apalachicola  77  67  78  61  78 /  50  90   0   0   0

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Wind Advisory until 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/ this evening for Calhoun-
     Central Walton-Coastal Bay-Coastal Dixie-Coastal Franklin-
     Coastal Gulf-Coastal Jefferson-Coastal Taylor-Coastal
     Wakulla-Gadsden-Holmes-Inland Bay-Inland Dixie-Inland
     Franklin-Inland Gulf-Inland Jefferson-Inland Taylor-Inland
     Wakulla-Jackson-Lafayette-Leon-Liberty-Madison-North Walton-
     South Walton-Washington.

     Flash Flood Watch through late tonight for Central Walton-Holmes-
     Jackson-North Walton-South Walton-Washington.

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

GA...Wind Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for Baker-Ben Hill-
     Berrien-Brooks-Calhoun-Clay-Colquitt-Cook-Decatur-Dougherty-
     Early-Grady-Irwin-Lanier-Lee-Lowndes-Miller-Mitchell-
     Quitman-Randolph-Seminole-Terrell-Thomas-Tift-Turner-Worth.

     Flash Flood Watch through late tonight for Baker-Ben Hill-
     Berrien-Brooks-Calhoun-Clay-Colquitt-Cook-Decatur-Dougherty-
     Early-Grady-Irwin-Lanier-Lee-Lowndes-Miller-Mitchell-
     Quitman-Randolph-Seminole-Terrell-Thomas-Tift-Turner-Worth.

AL...Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for Coffee-Dale-Geneva-
     Henry-Houston.

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

GM...Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM EDT /1 AM CDT/ Sunday 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...DVD
SHORT TERM...LF
LONG TERM...LF
AVIATION...Scholl
MARINE...LF
FIRE WEATHER...DVD
HYDROLOGY...LF

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 24, 8:51 AM CST, 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1051 AM EDT SAT APR 24 2021

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

1034 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 W MOULTRIE            31.18N 83.82W
04/24/2021                   COLQUITT           GA   AMATEUR RADIO

            5-6 DIAMETER PINE LIMBS DOWN - COLQUITT CO
            GA, SW OF RIVERSIDE ON HWY 111.

&&

JM

Local storm report, Apr 24, 8:53 AM CST, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1053 AM EDT SAT APR 24 2021

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

1044 AM     HAIL             TIFTON                  31.45N 83.51W
04/24/2021  E1.00 INCH       TIFT               GA   BROADCAST MEDIA

            NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL.

&&

JM

Local storm report, Apr 24, 8:57 AM CST, 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1057 AM EDT SAT APR 24 2021

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

1051 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 NW WAGON WHEEL        31.25N 83.48W
04/24/2021                   COOK               GA   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES DOWN ON GODWIN RD.

&&

JM

Local storm report, Apr 24, 8:58 AM CST, 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1058 AM EDT SAT APR 24 2021

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

1045 AM     HAIL             LENOX                   31.28N 83.47W
04/24/2021  E1.00 INCH       COOK               GA   BROADCAST MEDIA

            DIME/QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN LENOX (COOK
            COUNTY).

&&

JM

Local storm report, Apr 24, 9:10 AM CST, 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1110 AM EDT SAT APR 24 2021

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

0845 AM     TSTM WND DMG     HALEBURG                31.41N 85.14W
04/24/2021                   HENRY              AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            MOBILE HOME(S) DAMAGED. INJURIES HAVE BEEN
            REPORTED.

&&

JM

Local storm report, Apr 24, 9:11 AM CST, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1111 AM EDT SAT APR 24 2021

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

0845 AM     TSTM WND DMG     BELLWOOD                31.18N 85.79W
04/24/2021                   GENEVA             AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TREES ACROSS ROADWAY AT OR NEAR BELLWOOD ON
            STATE RD. 85 NORTH IN GENEVA CO.

&&

JM

The radar

The Tallahassee radar (KTLH), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:15 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 flash flood, 8 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Jackson

When: April 24, 9:15 AM CST
Where: Jackson County, Cypress
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 30.710, -85.070

Flash Flood, Holmes

When: April 24, 9:19 AM CST to 11:45 AM CST
Where: Holmes County, 0.37 mi S of Noma to 0.93 mi N of Noma
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.885, -85.620

Highway 173 and MC Carnley Road was underwater.

Flash Flood, Holmes

When: April 24, 9:19 AM CST to 11:45 AM CST
Where: Holmes County, 2.73 mi NW of Barker Store to 2 mi ENE of Leonia
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.939, -85.942

Highway 81 and Highway 2 were underwater.

Flash Flood, Holmes

When: April 24, 9:19 AM CST to 11:45 AM CST
Where: Holmes County, 1.91 mi NE of Leonia to 2.45 mi NNE of Leonia
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.926, -85.984

Highway 185 and Morrison Road were underwater.

Flash Flood, Holmes

When: April 24, 9:19 AM CST to 11:45 AM CST
Where: Holmes County, 0.11 mi SSE of Pittman to 0.84 mi W of Pittman
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.938, -85.820

Highway 2 and Copperhead Lane were underwater.

Flash Flood, Holmes

When: April 24, 9:19 AM CST to 11:45 AM CST
Where: Holmes County, 1.94 mi W of New Hope to 2.46 mi WSW of New Hope
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.953, -85.903

Carlis Lane and Gilmore Road were underwater near Highway 2.

Flash Flood, Holmes

When: April 24, 9:19 AM CST to 11:45 AM CST
Where: Holmes County, 3.09 mi ENE of Noma to 0.67 mi S of Tendil Crossing
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.901, -85.570

Highway 173 and Highway 160 were underwater.

Flash Flood, Walton

When: April 24, 10:13 AM CST to 11:45 AM CST
Where: Walton County, 3.06 mi E of Caney Creek to 2.77 mi N of Glendale
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.891, -86.148

Highway 83 and Bell Road was impassible.

Thunderstorm Wind, Walton

When: April 24, 10:14 AM CST
Where: Walton County, De Funiak Springs
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.720, -86.120

Trees were blown down.

Flash Flood, Walton

When: April 24, 10:15 AM CST to 11:45 AM CST
Where: Walton County, 2.25 mi NW of Liberty to 1.88 mi E of New Harmony
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.840, -86.240

The public reported the road flooded via mping near Highway 331 and Elmer Jones Road.

Hail, Leon

When: April 24, 11:40 AM EST
Where: Leon County, 2.83 mi NNE of Lake Iamonia
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.670, -84.240

Flash Flood, Walton

When: April 24, 10:45 AM CST to 11:45 AM CST
Where: Walton County, 0.59 mi E of Pond Creek to 1 mi E of Pond Creek
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.791, -86.370

Crowder Chapel Road and Hinote Road were flooded.

Flash Flood, Walton

When: April 24, 10:45 AM CST to 11:45 AM CST
Where: Walton County, 1.91 mi WSW of Glendale to 2.53 mi SW of Glendale
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.850, -86.140

There were several reports of flooding at County Highway 1084.

Flash Flood, Jackson

When: April 24, 11:15 AM CST to 1:15 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, 3 mi N of Marianna to 3 mi NW of Marianna
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.813, -85.230

There were multiple roads flooded in the Marianna area.

Hail, Gadsden

When: April 24, 12:15 PM EST
Where: Gadsden County, 0.91 mi NE of Magnet Cove
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.670, -84.410

Video was submitted of large hail north of Havana.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jefferson

When: April 24, 12:57 PM EST
Where: Jefferson County, 0.91 mi NW of Ashville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.620, -83.650

Trees were blown down into the roadway.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jefferson

When: April 24, 1:07 PM EST
Where: Jefferson County, 2.07 mi N of Monticello
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.570, -83.870

A tree was blown down and blocked the south bound lane of the road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: April 24, 1:20 PM EST
Where: Madison County, 0.91 mi NW of Hamburg
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.580, -83.520

Numerous trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jefferson

When: April 24, 1:30 PM EST
Where: Jefferson County, 3.31 mi N of Aucilla
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.527, -83.760

Trees were blown down at North Salt Road and Bassett Dairy Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: April 24, 1:30 PM EST
Where: Madison County, 3.01 mi NNW of Madison
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.500, -83.430

A tree was blown down on Little Cat Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: April 24, 1:30 PM EST
Where: Madison County, 1.5 mi NNW of Cherry Lake
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 30.600, -83.430

One house had roof damage in the Cherry Lake area with several trees and power lines down in the northern part of the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: April 24, 2:10 PM EST
Where: Madison County, 0.6 mi W of Greenville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 30.470, -83.640

Trees were blown down near the Jefferson and Madison county border.

Flash Flood, Holmes

When: April 24, 1:45 PM CST to 2:45 PM CST
Where: Holmes County, 2.84 mi NNE of Bonifay to 3.7 mi N of Bonifay
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 30.820, -85.668

The intersection of Highway 79 and 177 was covered in water.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Florida in 2021 Every state in 2021 This day in weather history Warnings in Florida, April 2021

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: 955901, 955060, 955061, 955062, 955063, 955064, 955065, 955066, 955903, 955067, 955904, 955071, 955072, 955069, 955905, 955906, 955907, 955908, 955893, 955894, 955910, 955891, 955070.