Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena - CIG

FLORIDA, West Panhandlecaused sand to wash out near Norriego Point which allowed a stream of water to crash over into normally tranquil Destin Harbor.Some beach erosion occurred from Navarre Beach to Fort Pickens. Sand was blown across County Road 399 between NavarreBeach and Fort Pickens and had to be cleared several times to allow vehicles to travel over it.Escambia CountyCountywideOkaloosa CountyCountywideSanta Rosa CountyCountywide0808Storm Data and Unusual Weather PhenomenaTimePath PathNumber ofEstimatedLocal/ Length WidthPersonsDamageLocation DateStandard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm0415CST2000CST1030CST2000CST0008 1030CST0 0 500KFlood2000CSTA slow moving complex weather system moved through southwest Alabama and northwest Florida on March 8, bringing with itcopious amounts of rainfall. The Mobile WSR-88D estimated rainfall totals of six to ten inches across the area on March 8.Residents in north Santa Rosa and north Okaloosa counties estimated up to twelve inches of rain fell. The heavy rains began duringthe early morning hours in Escambia county and moved slowly east across Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties during the midmorning hours. The heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding across the area. The flooding began in Escambia county and thenspread east across Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. Most secondary roads were completely washed out in these counties.Following are highlights of some of the damages in the affected counties:Escambia... Flooding was generally confined to the area along I-10 and north. Pensacola regional airport received about 6.5 inchesof rainfall on March 7 and 8. Most of the dirt roads north of I-10 were completely washed out. Part of U S Highway 29 south ofCentury was closed for much of the day on Sunday because of high water. Most of the paved roads that had water on them haddrained by Sunday evening. Residents say this was one of the worst floods they had seen. After the water drained, residents thatlived along the Escambia River saw flooding for the next several days as the river rose to near its highest level ever, near Century.This forced people along the river to evacuate.Okaloosa...Most of the flooding took place along and north of I-10. Most of the dirt roads in the central and north parts of thecounty were washed out by the heavy rain. Many of the paved roads in the north part of the county remained closed until theevening of March 8, when the water finally receded. As with Escambia county, river flooding continued for another week. TheYellow river at Milligan reached a reading of 20.32 feet on March 10 which is second to the reading of 26.2 feet in 1929. Manyhomes along the river had to be evacuated. Persons living along the Shoal river were also forced to evacuate.Santa Rosa...Most of the dirt roads along and north of I-10 were washed out. Most were closed from Sunday morning until theevening of March 8. Many paved roads in the central and north part of the county were closed most of Sunday because of highwater. River flooding began a few days later as residents who lived along the Yellow river were forced to evacuate. Persons alongthe Blackwater river in the Milton area were also forced to evacuate. Residents said this flood was comparable to the flood of 1990.001.5M1MFloodFloodMarch 1998Okaloosa CountyBlackmanEscambia CountyWest PensacolaSanta Rosa CountyMiltonFLZ002Okaloosa CountyCrestview08 0430CST0 0 25KThunderstorm Wind (G55)0431CSTHigh winds damaged a home near Blackman. Siding and part of the roof was blown off. No one was injured.08 0440CST00442CSTDime size hail was reported along I-10 just west of Pensacola.0Hail (0.75)08 0450CST0 0Hail (0.75)0452CSTDime size hail was reported just northwest of Milton.Coastal Escambia17 1000CST0 0 15KFlood1700CSTCoastal Flooding...Southeast winds increased behind an area of eastward moving thunderstorms to 20 to 30 knots, with gusts tonear 45 knots, for several hours. The winds were likely the result of a Bubble High developing behind the eastward movingthunderstorms. Beach erosion occurred around Johnson Beach and along Pensacola Beach. Tides were three to five feet abovenormal along Pensacola Beach. The high winds extended inland for five to ten miles and lasted for three to four hours.19 1225CST01227CSTDime size hail was reported along I-10 just west of Crestview.0Hail (0.75)47 41