Persistent moderate onshore flow led to numerous rip currents for a multi-day period. The strongest rip current occurred between June 15-24 when unfortunately several fatalities occurred.
On June 15th, according to a report from the Beach Police, a 52 year old male from Lula, GA drowned after he entered the Gulf to help two beachgoers who were fighting a rip current. The incident occurred at Public Beach Access 75, which is located near Front Beach Road and South Vestavia Street. Double red flags were flying.
On June 18th, according to a news release from the Panama City Beach Police Department, a 47 year old male from Helena, Alabama, drowned after he attempted to rescue his daughter from a rip current. The incident occurred near Tidewater Beach Condominiums, 16819 Front Beach Road. The daughter was rescued successfully. Single red flags were flying.
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 15, 12:37 PM EST, 23 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 15, 12:37 PM EST, 23 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
137 PM EDT Thu Jun 15 2023
...New AVIATION...
.NEAR TERM...
(Today and tonight)
Issued at 259 AM EDT Thu Jun 15 2023
Shortwave trough currently moving across western Mississippi, is
aiding in another MCS/cluster of storms from central Alabama
westward to central Mississippi. This complex with move
east/southeast, while additional development will occur in
southern Alabama and in the northern Gulf. This area will spread
east this morning while additional development will occur this
afternoon from central Alabama towards the Florida panhandle. The
atmosphere hasn't changed much over the past few days with
instability remaining on the order of 2500-3500 J/kg, bulk shear
around 40 knots, PWATs around 1.8 inches, and lift with the
shortwave troughs, seabreeze, and introduction of a southward
moving cold front. SPC today has a slight risk for severe weather
today, citing the biggest threats as wind and hail with an
isolated tornado threat as well. Also, with the recent heavy
rainfall, especially through our Georgia and southeast Alabama
counties, a slight risk for excessive rainfall exists in these
areas as well.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(Friday through Saturday night)
Issued at 259 AM EDT Thu Jun 15 2023
Not much change in the overall pattern is expected into the short
term period. Northwest flow, in between upper ridging in the
western Gulf and troughing over the northeast, will act to keep
the instability, shear, and moisture in place to warrant a
continued threat for severe weather both Friday and Saturday. SPC
has much of the area in a slight risk for severe weather Friday
and a marginal risk for Saturday. Several impulses will ride down
on northwest flow and act to get things going and aided by diurnal
convection through the day, rain chances are fairly high with
70-80% across much of the area.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Sunday through Wednesday)
Issued at 259 AM EDT Thu Jun 15 2023
Troughing continues over the southeast as a strong shortwave
trough reinforces and deepens the upper trough and upper ridging
slides westward. This will keep elevated rain chances in the
forecast through this period with multiple episodes of convective
clusters or MCSs moving in on northwest flow, in addition to the
normal diurnal seabreeze activity as well. With the amount of rain
and cloud cover, have high temperatures this period mostly in the
upper 80s to around 90 degrees.
&&
.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 134 PM EDT Thu Jun 15 2023
Waves of showers and thunderstorms continues to spread across the
region, impacting area terminals. All terminals except for KECP
will be impacted early in the forecast period, with KECP impacts
coming later in the afternoon. May see a break in the action this
evening. However, additional showers and storms are anticipated
late tonight into the evening. However, timing and coverage
remains rather uncertain.
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 259 AM EDT Thu Jun 15 2023
Unsettled weather is likely the next few days with multiple
rounds of showers and thunderstorms moving near or across the
waters. Thunderstorms will be capable of strong gusty winds, hail,
waterspouts and frequent lightning. Otherwise, generally
southwest winds are expected with periods of exercise caution
conditions, especially within the nearshore waters.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 259 AM EDT Thu Jun 15 2023
An unsettled weather pattern will continue into the weekend. Daily
rounds of showers and thunderstorms, including severe
thunderstorms with large hail, damaging winds, and isolated
tornadoes, is also expected to continue into the weekend. Elevated
transport winds will lead to areas of high dispersions, especially
across the Florida counties and into southwest Georgia.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 259 AM EDT Thu Jun 15 2023
Widespread rainfall totals of 1-2 inches were reported through
the area and via doppler radar, with areas around the Flint river
and wiregrass from southwest Georgia and extreme southeast Alabama
picking up 4-6 inches. Albany airport recorded 5.19 inches
yesterday and the heaviest of rainfall occurred through Randolph,
Terrell, Calhoun and Dougherty counties. These areas will
especially be vulnerable to additional flooding risks as storms
develop today. Heaviest totals today may shift a little south and
will need to keep an eye on the panhandle for possible inclusion
in the watch later.
Totals over the next several days will be around 2-4 inches with
isolated higher amounts. Concerning area rivers, a few of the
faster responding rivers are forecast to reach action stage over
the next several days, including the Choctawhatchee, Flint,
Kinchafoonee, and Ochlockonee. This also bears watching depending
on how rainfall over the next several days occurs.
&&
.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 89 73 89 72 / 80 70 70 60
Panama City 87 74 87 74 / 70 60 70 60
Dothan 86 70 88 70 / 90 70 60 60
Albany 86 68 88 69 / 90 70 40 40
Valdosta 87 70 89 70 / 90 70 60 50
Cross City 89 74 88 73 / 80 60 70 60
Apalachicola 86 77 86 75 / 60 50 70 60
&&
.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Flood Watch through Friday evening for FLZ007-009-011.
High Rip Current Risk through Friday morning for FLZ108-112-114-
115.
GA...Flood Watch through Friday evening for GAZ120>131-142>148-
155>161.
AL...Flood Watch through Friday evening for ALZ065>069.
GM...None.
&&
NEAR TERM...Scholl
SHORT TERM...Scholl
LONG TERM....Scholl
AVIATION...Camp
MARINE...Scholl
FIRE WEATHER...Scholl
HYDROLOGY...SchollIn the hours before
Local storm report, Jun 15, 11:53 AM EST, 1 hour 7 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1253 PM EDT Thu Jun 15 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1230 PM Flash Flood 1 W Southwest Ga Region 31.53N 84.22W
06/15/2023 Dougherty GA 911 Call Center
Water over roadways at these locations: -
1800 Block of Countyline Road - Nottingham
Way at Liberty Expressway - S. Countyline
Road and Thomas Road - S. Countyline Road
and Elliott Drive - 800 South Harding
Street.
&&Local storm report, Jun 15, 11:58 AM EST, 1 hour 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1258 PM EDT Thu Jun 15 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1230 PM Flash Flood 1 SW Thomasville 30.83N 83.99W
06/15/2023 Thomas GA 911 Call Center
Water over roadway and railroad tracks.
&&
JMLocal storm report, Jun 15, 12:15 PM EST, 45 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
115 PM EDT Thu Jun 15 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0111 PM Flash Flood 1 W Barnes 31.47N 85.13W
06/15/2023 Henry AL Broadcast Media
Flash flooding along County Rd 28 in Henry
Co, AL.
&&
JMLocal storm report, Jun 15, 12:19 PM EST, 41 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
119 PM EDT Thu Jun 15 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0115 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Valdosta Regional Airpo 30.78N 83.27W
06/15/2023 M40 MPH Lowndes GA Mesonet
Weatherflow station measured 40 mph gust in
Valdosta.
&&
JMLocal storm report, Jun 15, 12:38 PM EST, 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
138 PM EDT Thu Jun 15 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1135 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg Hanson 30.55N 83.37W
06/15/2023 Madison FL Emergency Mngr
There are multiple downed trees and power
lines across Madison county.
&&Local storm report, Jun 15, 12:45 PM EST, 15 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
145 PM EDT Thu Jun 15 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0600 AM Rain 2 NNE Alfords 31.49N 83.91W
06/15/2023 M5.22 inch Worth GA Cocorahs
Cocorahs station GA-WT-3 Sylvester 5.5 WSW,
2 day total.
0700 AM Rain 2 WNW Lockett Crossing 31.57N 84.27W
06/15/2023 M5.83 inch Dougherty GA Cocorahs
Cocorahs station GA-DH-8 Albany 5.8 W, 2 day
total.
0721 AM Rain Sasser 31.72N 84.35W
06/15/2023 M5.06 inch Terrell GA Cocorahs
Cocorahs station GA-TL-1 Sasser 0.2 WSW, 2
day total.
1245 PM Rain Starksville 31.78N 84.14W
06/15/2023 M4.55 inch Lee GA Mesonet
Mesonet station MCKG1 Starksville, 2 day
total.
1245 PM Rain 1 SE Crossroads 31.82N 84.97W
06/15/2023 M7.70 inch Quitman GA Mesonet
Mesonet station MRSG1 1.5 SE Crossroads, 2
day total.
1255 PM Rain Southwest Ga Regional a 31.53N 84.20W
06/15/2023 M7.03 inch Dougherty GA ASOS
ASOS station KABY Albany, 2 day total.
0100 PM Rain Milford 31.38N 84.55W
06/15/2023 M4.26 inch Baker GA Mesonet
Mesonet station MLFG1 Milford, 2 day total.
0100 PM Rain 1 SE Morgan 31.53N 84.58W
06/15/2023 M5.35 inch Calhoun GA Mesonet
Mesonet station MGNG1 1.2 SE Morgan, 2 day
total.
0100 PM Rain 2 S Elmodel Wma 31.31N 84.47W
06/15/2023 M5.97 inch Baker GA Mesonet
Mesonet station IWYG1 ICHAUWAY-GEORGE, 2 day
total.
0115 PM Rain 1 NE Hillsdale 31.48N 83.58W
06/15/2023 M4.65 inch Tift GA Mesonet
Mesonet station TWCG1 1.4 NE Hillsdale, 2
day total.
0115 PM Rain 1 SSE Dawson 31.76N 84.44W
06/15/2023 M4.80 inch Terrell GA Mesonet
Mesonet station UGA66 Dawson, 2 day total.
0115 PM Rain 2 NW East Albany 31.59N 84.14W
06/15/2023 M5.70 inch Dougherty GA CO-OP Observer
CO-OP Observer station ABNG1 1.6 NW East
Albany, 2 day total.
0140 PM Rain 2 W Albany 31.58N 84.21W
06/15/2023 M4.39 inch Dougherty GA Mesonet
Mesonet station ALBDR 2 W Albany, 2 day
total.
&&