Tropical Storm — Bradford, Florida
2017-09-10 to 2017-09-11 · Bradford, Florida
Event narrative
This narrative is from the NWS Jacksonville Post Storm Report for Hurricane Irma which is a compiled list of reports from the storm survey, Emergency Management, private and public weather observation networks and broadcast media sources.
The county experienced widespread tree and power line damage due to tropical storm force winds.
The county EM team reported that about 300 homes where flooded in the cities of Starke, Sampson and Crosby Lake. Two apartment complexes were flooded. Three weeks after the storm, residents of Sampson and Crosby Lake were still taking boats to get to their homes. Initial road damage estimates were up to $4 million dollars.
Storm total rainfall included 11.74 inches measured 0.9 miles ESE of Starke. At 10:35 am on 9/10, Alligator Creek in Starke started rising up to the bridge level at Laura Street. This occurred in conjunction with major flood stage reported at the Alligator Creek gauge located just downstream at U.S. Highway 301. Alligator Creek at Starke set a record flood stage at 147.98 feet on 09/11 at 1100 EDT. The Santa Fe River near Graham set a record flood stage at 118.98 feet on 09/11 at 0945 EDT. Hampton Lake near Hampton crested at 131.03 feet on Sept 13th at 1200 EDT. Moderate flooding occurred at this level. Lake Sampson near Starke set a record flood stage at 135.34 feet on Sept 15th at 2000 EDT. Major flooding occurred at this level. New River near Lake Butler set a record flood stage at 98.55 feet on Sept 12th at 0815 EDT. Major flooding occurred at this level. Sampson River at Sampson City set a record flood stage at 135.09 feet on Sept 15th at 1900 EDT. Major flooding occurred at this level.
Wider weather episode
Hurricane Irma's eye passed west of the local forecast area, with the region on the storm's turbulent east side. Widespread tropical storm force winds with gusts to hurricane force were felt across much of the area, with the strongest winds surging up the Florida east coast during the pre-dawn hours of Sept. 11th. Extensive tree and power line damage occurred across the local area from the winds. One of the greatest local impacts exacerbated by Irma's rainfall and storm surge was river flooding. Prior to Irma's arrival, a local nor'eastern developed 3 days prior, with strong onshore flow pumping water into the St. Johns River basin. Elevated water levels of 1-2 ft above normal tidal departure were already ongoing for several tidal cycles before Irma's surge and rainfall. The nor'easter also brought localized heavy rainfall bands, with some areas near the coast realizing 4-6 inches in 24 hrs the days prior to Irma. In addition, precursor conditions to the nor'easter included an above average rainfall across the region during the summer months. Major, historic river flooding was forecast along Black Creek and the Sante Fe a week prior to Irma. Realized river values along the St. Johns surpassed prior record levels set by Hurricane Dora in 1964, during low tide the morning of Sept. 11th. The St. Johns River basin continued to rise with the combination of trapped tides due to the nor'easter, astronomically high tides heading into the spring tide season, storm surge of up to 5 ft in some areas, fresh water rainfall of 7-11 inches, and strong southerly winds pushing the water across the basin on the east side of Irma. Historic river flooding occurred across much of NE Florida Sept 11th through the following week as water levels were slow to funnel out of the St. Johns basin. Coastal infrastructure that was already weakened about 1 year ago due to Hurricane Matthew suffered the most damage from Irma's storm surge.
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 720359. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.