Tropical Storm — Coastal Nassau, Florida

2022-11-09 to 2022-11-10 · Coastal Nassau, Florida

Event narrative

Impacts from Nicole were limited mainly from Yulee east toward the coast. Major storm surge flooding was reported across Fernandina Beach and Amelia City.

On Wednesday Nov. 9th around 9:50 am, Nassau County Fire Rescue reported tidal flooding along North Front Street. At 11:12 am, Nassau County Fire Rescue reported Escambia Street was flooded an impassable due to tidal flooding inundation due to the strong nor'easter ahead of Nicole. At 11 am, Nassau County Fire Rescue reported that Dade Street was closed due to flood water.

Around 815 am on Thu Nov. 10th, major storm surge flooding was observed north of the Harbor Marina in Fernandina Beach. The Fernandina Beach Fire Department reported flooding along N Front Street. Dade Street was closed due to flooding. Around 1038 am on Nov. 11th, a structure beneath the Shave ICWW bridge had about 6-12 inches of water inside. At 10:41 am, Nassau County Emergency Management reported street flooding on Piney Island Drive with about 1 foot over roadway.

At 10:54 am on Thu Nov 10th, the National Ocean Service tide station along the Amelia river in Fernandina Beach recorded a peak water level of 3.81 feet above mean higher high water (MHHW). Major flooding begins at 3.5 feet above MHHW. This was the highest water level since Hurricane Matthew in October 2016, when the water level at this gauge peaked at 4.13 feet above MHHW.

Weather observations measured wind gusts between 40-50 mph in Yulee and Fernandina Beach. Around 2.5 to 2 inches of rain fell in Fernandina Beach.

Wider weather episode

Hurricane Nicole approached the SE FL Atlantic Coast and made landfall as a Category 1 near Vero Beach during the pre-dawn hours of Thursday, November 10th. Strong high pressure dominated NNE of the region ahead of Nicole on Wednesday, November 9th, which created strong onshore flow and gusty winds of 35-50 mph in a local 'nor'easter' type of event. This strong onshore flow combined with high astronomical tides 'charged' inland estuaries including the St. Johns River basin ahead of storm surge from Hurricane Nicole. Winds and ocean surge increased through Wednesday night with the peak of the storm surge along the local Atlantic Coast Thursday morning around high tide, then the surge peak down the St. Johns River through high tide Thursday afternoon. After landfall, Nicole weakened to a tropical storm as the center track WNW across central FL through the day Thursday then began a more northward turn across the central FL panhandle into Thursday night. The main local impacts from Nicole were storm surge inundation as well as tropical storm force wind damage.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1057131. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.