Tropical Storm — Eastern Putnum, Florida

2024-10-09 to 2024-10-10 · Eastern Putnum, Florida

Event narrative

Major to minor damage was reported across the county, both from wind damage as well as river and rainfall flooding. Many homes had significant wind damage to roofs, fences, and carports. Extensive flooding of streets and homes occurred for areas along the St. Johns River and its tributaries including Dunns Creek due to the combination of rainfall runoff and elevated tides. The St. Johns River in Putnam county entered moderate flood stage on the evening of Oct. 9th evening and then major flood stage on Oct. 10th. On 10/10 at 10:30 PM, Dunns Creek near Satsuma crested in major flood at 3.32 feet MHHW and the St. Johns River at Buffalo Bluff also crested in major flood at 3.14 feet MHHW. The entire Sportsman Harbor neighborhood near Welaka was completely flooded with floodwaters from the St. Johns River inundating homes and trapping residents in their homes. County officials had to use boats and amphibious vehicles to deliver supplies and reach residents. Floodwaters appeared to reach up to people's knees. Flooding continued through Oct. 13th. Floodwaters from the St. Johns River also inundated multiple homes along Beechers Point Dr near Welaka. Flooded and impassable streets due to the St. Johns River flooding were also reported in Federal Point including Commercial Ave. Major flooding along Dunns Creek in Satsuma flooded streets near the creek making them impassable including Marina Ln, Edgewater Rd, and Walt Ln. Floodwaters from Dunns Creek inundated homes along Paradise Cir and Magnolia Tr. Floodwaters along Paradise Cir went halfway up a woman's calves. Residences in Drayton Island, Highland Ave/Island, Sportsman Harbor, and along Dunns Creek were inaccessible for weeks after Milton due to the continuation of high river levels from post-storm drainage and annual high astronomical tides.

Peak wind gusts of 40-55 mph occurred on Oct. 10th between 12-3 AM EDT. At 11:27 am on 10/9, a mesonet station measured a 50 mph gust about 5 miles SE of Crescent City. At 12:17 AM 10/10, EW6604 Crescent City reported a sustained wind of 40 mph with a gust of 55 mph. At 1:20 AM on, 0286W 1.2 W Palatka (WEATHERSTEM) reported a wind gust to 49 mph. There was also 40 mph measured in Hawthorne. Significant damage due to strong winds was reported across the county. Multiple large trees fell on houses causing significant roof and structural damage. In Palatka, downed trees destroyed a roof and cracked the walls of a home along Oak St and destroyed carports along Emerald Ter and Carr St. A tall pine tree fell straight through a mobile home along Sandpiper Ln in Georgetown. Another large tree fell on a home along Fisherman Rd in Satsuma destroying the roof.

Heavy rainfall from Milton's rainbands the morning of Oct. 9th led to 2 to 4 inches of rain falling across much of Putnam county in a short time span (4 hours). On 10/9 at 10 AM, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office closed State Road 20 in the vicinity of downtown Palatka (Crill Avenue at South 9th Street) due to flooding between 10/9 through 10/15. At 4:18 on 10/9, the public measured 4.47' since midnight about 4 miles NE of Bostwick. On 10/10 at 2:30 am, a mesonet site in Palatka measured 6.3 inches of storm total rainfall. Peak storm total rainfall amounts of 6-7 inches were measured in Palatka and Satsuma.

The Putnam county sheriff's office issued a curfew after the storm due to widespread downed trees and powerlines and flooding in neighborhoods, at the peak near 20,000 people were without power in the county. Ahead of the storm, Putnam county urged residents who are likely to flood in Zones F and A to evacuate.

Wider weather episode

A tropical disturbance over the southwest Gulf of Mexico quickly developed into Tropical Storm

Milton on Saturday, October 5th. Milton then moved slowly east-southeastward, strengthening into a

hurricane the following day. On Monday, October 7th, the storm underwent rapid intensification,

reaching Category 5 strength as it neared the northwestern coast of Mexico's Yucatn Peninsula. Late

on Monday and into Tuesday, Milton shifted eastward and then northeastward across the

southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

As Milton approached Florida's Gulf coast on Wednesday, October 9th, it began to gradually weaken,

but still maintained major hurricane status. The storm made landfall that evening near Siesta Key on

Florida's west coast as a strong Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

While it weakened further as it crossed central Florida overnight, Milton remained a hurricane. By

early Thursday morning, October 10th, it emerged off Florida's Atlantic coast as a Category 1 storm.

Milton caused widespread impacts across north-central and northeast Florida, as well as coastal

southeast Georgia. Flagler County, along with large portions of St. Johns, Putnam, and Marion

counties, experienced sustained tropical storm-force winds and hurricane-force gusts. Rainfall

amounts ranged from 7 to 11 inches as outer rainbands and the storm's powerful northern side

swept through these areas late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.

This heavy rainfall caused Deep Creek, a tributary of the St. Johns River in St. Johns County, to reach

record levels on Thursday, October 10th, surpassing the previous record set during Hurricane Irma in

2017. This led to extensive flooding throughout the southern half of St. Johns County, particularly in

the Flagler Estates community and the towns of Hastings and Spuds. Additionally, record flooding was

observed along Haw Creek in western Flagler County, exceeding the previous record set in the

aftermath of Hurricane Ian in 2022.

Storm surge flooding of around 3 feet above Mean Higher High Water (MHHW) was recorded along

the St. Johns River and the northeast Florida coast. Significant inundation was reported along the

lower St. Johns River, with widespread flooding in areas such as Welaka, FL.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1219125. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.