Tropical Storm — Charlton, Georgia

2016-10-06 to 2016-10-08 · Charlton, Georgia

Event narrative

Storm total 48 hour rainfall included 3.13 inches 11 miles NNW of Steven Foster State Park; 3.09 inches 10 miles SW of Folkston; and 2.75 inches 1 miles WNW of Steven Foster State Park.

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 660854. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.