Storm Surge/Tide — Coastal Charlotte, Florida

2016-06-06 to 2016-06-07 · Coastal Charlotte, Florida

Event narrative

Storm surge from Tropical Storm Colin produced a maximum storm tide of between 3 to 5 feet MLLW along the Southwest Florida coastline on the afternoon and early evening of the 6th. Subtracting the predicted astronomical tide, the calculated highest storm surge ranged from 2 to 4 feet on the evening of the 6th. Charlotte County Emergency Management reported that the surge added to continuing beach erosion on Manasota Key, with damage to stairs and boardwalks. The damage cost from this erosion was roughly estimated to be around $300,000.

Wider weather episode

Tropical Storm Colin developed over the Gulf of Mexico on June 5th and moved onshore in the Big Bend region of Florida with a minimum central pressure of 1000 mb late on the 6th.

For West-Central and Southwest Florida, Tropical Storm Warnings were issued late morning on the 5th for Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Sumter, Pasco, Pinellas, and Hillsborough Counties, as well as coastal portions of Manatee and Sarasota Counties. The Tropical Storm Warnings were allowed to end on the morning of the 7th as Colin was moving northwest of Florida.

Across the west coast of the Florida Peninsula, the maximum storm tide was around 3 to 7 feet MLLW during the afternoon of the 6th. Subtracting the predicted astronomical tide, the calculated highest storm surge ranged from around 2.5 to 4.5 feet during the evening of the 6th.

Much of the area saw tropical storm force winds from late morning of the 6th through early morning on the 7th, with the peak wind in the area being 49 knots in Bradenton Beach. Widespread areas of 6 to 10 inches of rain fell over the area, with the area of highest rain totals located across Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties around the Tampa Bay, and in interior areas of Levy County in the Nature Coast.

The Skyway Bridge section of Interstate 275 connecting Manatee and Pinellas Counties across the Tampa Bay was closed by the Florida Department of Transportation for about 25 hours beginning late morning on June 6th.

The Coast Guard closed the Port of Tampa due to high winds. The port was opened up again less than a day later.

Numerous power outages were reported, mostly across Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 635166. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.