Tropical Storm — Inland Duval, Florida

2016-10-06 to 2016-10-08 · Inland Duval, Florida

Event narrative

Tropical storm conditions were realized across the county. Official winds included sustained 45 mph at Jacksonville International Airport on 10/7 at 3:20 pm with a peak gust to 64 mph on 10/7 at 3:19 pm. Cecil Field measured a sustained peak wind of 37 mph on 10/7 at 6:15 pm with a peak gust of 55 mph on 10/7 at 10:15 pm. A sensor in Jacksonville Heights measured a peak gust of 48 mph on 10/8 at 12:22 am. A sensor about 1 mile SE of Ortega measured a peak wind gust to 39 mph on 10/7 at 2:55 pm.

Tropical storm force gusts started early morning on 10/7. Reports of trees down began with the first report around 7:30 am of a large tree and power lines down in Ortega. Between 11 am and 12 pm, the Jacksonville International Airport reported a 51 mph gust. Winds continued to increase during the day. Trees were blown down throughout the evening hours. Between 4 and 6 pm, trees came down on 103rd street, Dunn Ave, Pulaski and Terrell Roads. At 6:24 pm, trees were blown down on I-95 southbound near mile marker 339 which blocked 2 lanes. At 7:40 pm, a large tree was blown down onto power lines near the intersection of Julington Creek Road and Caron Drive. At 11:25 pm, trees were blown down on I-10 east bound near Chaffee Road which blocked one lane.

Flooding was reported and Commonwealth Ave was closed between Ellis and Lane Avenues due to water over the road.

At 8:06 pm, the NOAA tide gauge at the Buckman Bridge was 3.42 feet above NAVD88 which was 2.43 feet above predicted. This was the second highest surge on record for this location.

The Trout River at Lem Turner Road reported moderate flooding with a storm tide of 3.52 ft NAVD88 on 10/7 at 4:15 pm. Dunn Creek at Dunn Creek Road reported moderate flooding storm tide of 4.06 ft NAVD88 on 10/7 at 5:45 pm. The Ortega River at Argyle Forest Blvd reported minor flooding with a storm tide of 10.63 ft NAVD88 on 10/7 at 10:15 pm.

Max storm surge measured at Cedar River was 3.77 ft agl with a storm tide of 3.30 ft MHHW on 10/8 at 3:15 am. At the Trout River a max storm surge of 2.27 ft agl was measured with a storm tide of 3.52 ft MHHW on 10/7 at 4:15 pm.

Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) reported that 55 percent of customers lost power and widespread significant damage.

Duval county EMA reported residents along Cherry St within 150 ft of the entrance to Cherry Street Park stated there was some flooding for a few hours after 2 pm on 10/7.

Storm total rainfall over 48 hours included 8.15 inches 1 mile S of Jacksonville Heights; 7.55 inches 2 miles NNW of Ortega; 7.44 inches 2 miles ENE of Jacksonville Heights; 6.97 inches 1 mile WNW of Ortega; 6.87 inches 1 mile SSE of Ortega; 6.87 inches in Normandy; 6.83 inches 4 miles W of Normandy; 6.75 inches at the Jacksonville International Airport; 6.31 inches 2 miles WSW of Ortega; 6.03 inches at Jacksonville Naval Air Station; 5.45 inches 1 mile SE Ortega; and 5.30 inches 1 mile SW of Ortega.

Wider weather episode

Category 3 Hurricane Matthew track northward along the Florida Atlantic Coast Thursday October 7th, and then NNE remaining about 50 east of Mayport at the closest approach Friday morning October 8th. Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia only experienced tropical storm conditions with sustained speeds generally 35-55 mph with higher gusts up to 80 mph along coastal areas and the St. Johns River basin, with much weaker winds inland. Strong winds and flooding rainfall, as well as a 4-7 ft storm surge impacted much of coastal NE Florida and portions of SE Georgia. Storm total rainfall amounts ranged from up to near 10 inches in some coastal and St. Johns River basin counties...down to only 2-4 inches farther inland toward the I-75 corridor.

Water levels were already elevated along the St. Johns River for several days ahead of Matthew due to a local nor'easter. Water levels were very slow to drain out of the St. Johns River basin with major to moderate flooding ongoing for about 5-6 days in portions of Putnam and St. Johns counties due to the seiche affect and water being trapped in the estuary under persistent onshore flow after Matthew.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 659429. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.