Tropical Storm in Coastal Walton, Florida

Tropical Storm Arlene came ashore just west of Pensacola, FL Friday afternoon. Maximum sustained winds reached 40 mph at Buoy 42039 located 80 miles south of Panama City, FL, with a peak gust of 52 mph late Thursday evening. The lowest sea-level pressure recorded was 997.7 mb at Buoy 42039. Storm total rainfall ranged from two to four inches throughout much of the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend. Storm surge heights associated with Arlene ranged from five feet along the Walton County coast to three to four feet along the Wakulla County coast. Moderate beach erosion occurred from Walton to Franklin County. Storm surges and moderate to heavy wave action, which accounted for 80 percent of the damage, marred walkways in Bay County, washed out much of Alligator Point Road in Franklin County, and pushed seaweed ashore in Wakulla County. Downed trees on power lines caused an estimated 500 customers to lose power in Walton, Washington, and Bay counties.