Tropical Storm — Coastal Escambia, Florida

2002-09-24 to 2002-09-26 · Coastal Escambia, Florida

Wider weather episode

For the second time during the month the area was threatened by a tropical storm. Tropical Storm Isidore threatened the area Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. We were put under a Tropical Storm Warning at 900 AM CST on September 24. The Tropical Storm Warning was dropped at 300 PM CST on September 26 as the remains of Isidore moved across eastern Mississippi. Isidore moved ashore over the Southeast Louisiana Coast between 200 and 300 AM CST on September 26. Although the center of Isidore did not move over our area, the strongest winds and heaviest rains were east of the center with most of the damage across Southwest Alabama and Northwest Florida.Some of the winds recorded across Southwest Alabama and Northwest Florida were as follows: Mobile Airport, sustained wind of 42 knots with gusts to 50 knots. Mobile Brookley Field, sustained wind of 40 knots with gusts to 50 knots. Dauphin Island, sustained wind of 42 knots with gusts to 52 knots. Cedar Point, sustained wind of 35 knots with gusts to 53 knots. Pensacola Airport, sustained wind of 29 knots with gusts to 44 knots. Pensacola Naval Air Station, sustained wind of 31 knots with gusts to 43 knots. Hurlburt Air Force Base in Mary Esther, sustained wind of 33 knots with gusts to 49 knots. Pensacola Beach, sustained wind of 40 knots with gusts to 58 knots. Perdido Key, sustained wind 37 knots with gusts to 53 knots.The lowest sea level pressure was 991 MB at Mobile Airport, Dauphin Island and Semmes, Alabama.Two day rainfall totals across the area ending at 1100 AM CST on September 26 were as follows in Alabama: Robertsdale 11.76, Semmes 11.90, Bay Minette 11.00, Mobile (4 S of MOB) 11.00, Brewton 10.29, Gulf State Park 10.20 and Mobile (Municipal Park) 10.12. In Florida: Milton 15.72, Pace 13.76, Bratt 10.27, Munson 10.14, Pensacola Airport 9.09, Pea Ridge 8.74 and Milligan 8.27. In Mississippi: Wiggins 9.80, Merrill 9.19, Leakesville and Waynesboro 7.15.The highest storm tides along the Alabama coast were as follows: Middle Bay Light House 6.1 feet, Mobile State Docks 5.9 feet, Cedar Point 5.0 feet, and Dauphin Island 4.4 feet. Along the Florida coast, some storm tides were as follows: Pensacola 5.2 feet , Perdido Pass 4.5 feet, Destin East Pass 3.8 feet, and Santa Rosa Sound 3.4 feet.Major beach erosion occurred on Dauphin Island and along the beaches of Baldwin county in Alabama, as well as along the Florida panhandle coastline from Pensacola Beach to Navarre Beach. Major storm tide flooding occurred in Mobile County Alabama on the west end of Dauphin Island, along low lying coastal areas of the southern part of the county, and along the Causeway that crosses the northern part of Mobile Bay. Storm tide flooding also occurred in Baldwin County, primarily in the West Beach and Orange Beach areas. Storm tide flooding also occurred along portions of the Florida coastline from Pensacola Beach to Navarre Beach. Moderate river flooding occurred in Mobile and Baldwin counties in Alabama, with some river flooding also reported in Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties of the Florida panhandle. Two F0 tornadoes occurred in coastal Okaloosa county in Florida, two F0 tornadoes occurred in coastal Baldwin county of Alabama and one F0 In Mobile county. Minor structural damage was reported with each tornado, but for the most part, only tree damage occurred. Primary storm effects were along the coasts of Alabama and the Florida panhandle. In Mobile county, the main effects were the tidal flooding that occurred on Dauphin Island. The berm on the west end of the island was destroyed. Bayou La Batre and the road leading to Dauphin Island were flooded by above normal tide levels. Two feet of water covered Water Street in downtown Mobile. The causeway at the northern end of Mobile Bay was closed for a time due to high water, and some of the businesses on the causeway were flooded. Some houses along Bayou Sara and the Fowl River had some water in them. In Baldwin County, major beach erosion occurred along an area know as West Beach. Surges in this area were estimated at 5.5 to 6.5 feet. Wind driven waves on top of this surge deposited sand across West Beach Road and the wave action removed a couple of feet of sand from underneath several beach houses. Some houses along the Fish River were also flooded. In Escambia County major beach erosion occurred on Pensacola Beach. The road to Fort Pickens and the road between Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach was closed due to the road being overwashed with several feet of sand. The island was breached in a couple of places. The Santa Rosa county coast sustained major beach erosion as well...primarily around Navarre Beach. Lastly. Okaloosa county experience some beach erosion, but not as extensively as did the counties just to the west. Highway 98 between Fort Walton and Destin had a couple of feet of water across it, but at least one lane remained open and passable.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5319898. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.