Floods in due to Tropical Storm Fay, August 15 through September 26, 2008

Open-File Report 2010-1142

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover: Satellite image of Florida during Tropical Storm Fay, 2008 Image from NASA (National Aeronatics and Space Administration). Floods in Florida due to Tropical Storm Fay, August 15 through September 26, 2008

By Richard J. Verdi and Sandra L. Holt

Open-File Report 2010-1142

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2010

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Suggested citation: Verdi, R.J., and Holt, S.L, 2010, Floods in Florida due to Tropical Storm Fay, August 15 through September 26, 2008: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2010-1142, 18 p.

9781411329317 Contents iii

Contents

Acknowledgments...... vi Abstract...... 1 Introduction...... 2 Purpose and Scope...... 2 Approach...... 3 Data Collection...... 6 Storm Track...... 7 Rainfall and Runoff...... 8 Casualties and Damages...... 9 River Discharges and Water Levels...... 11 Instantaneous Peak Streamflows and Water Levels...... 11 Monthly Mean Streamflows...... 16 Summary...... 18 References Cited...... 18

Figures

1. Map showing the track of Tropical Storm Fay in August 2008...... 2 2. Maps showing the locations of the streamgages and weather gages in north and south Florida...... 6 3. Satellite image of Tropical Storm Fay over Florida taken on August 21, 2008...... 7 4. Map of accumulated rainfall totals during Tropical Storm Fay...... 8 5–14. Photographs Showing— 5. A flooded building at St. Johns River near Christmas on August 25, 2008...... 9 6. A flooded roadway (Highway 46) at the St. Johns River above on August 28, 2008...... 9 7. A flooded structure at Arbuckle Creek near DeSoto City on August 20, 2008...... 9 8. Flooded property near the near Bloxham on August 25, 2008...... 10 9. A washed-out road at Weeping Willow Way in eastern Leon County on August 24, 2008...... 10 10. View looking upstream from underneath the Highway 27 bridge at Ochlockonee River near Havana during low flow on June 3, 2008...... 11 11. View looking downstream from Highway 12 at the Ochlockonee River near Concord on August 25, 2008...... 14 12. Flooded roadways on the Ochlockonee River near Concord...... 15 13. Flooded property along the Ochlockonee River near Havana on August 25, 2008, and the Havana gaging station at Highway 27 on August 26, 2008...... 15 14. The gage at St. Johns River near Sanford during normal conditions on April 25, 2008, and after Tropical Storm Fay on August 28, 2008...... 17 iv Floods in Florida due to Tropical Storm Faykiisa ub /dkieus SYW RI /REIOUXk /arien /dT

Tables

1. Rainfall amounts recorded at National Weather Service weather stations for Tropical Storm Fay...... 3 2. National Weather Service and U.S. Geological Survey stations referenced in this report...... 4 3. Rainfall amounts recorded at U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations for Tropical Storm Fay...... 8 4. Peak discharges, river levels, and exceedance probabilities produced by Tropical Storm Fay compared to period-of-record peak discharges and exceedance probabilities for selected sites in Florida...... 12 5. New maximum monthly mean discharges produced by Tropical Storm Fay and the previous maximum and year of occurrence...... 14 6. Relation of period of record August and September combined monthly mean discharge to combined mean discharge for August and September 2008 following the passage of Tropical Storm Fay...... 16

Conversion Factors and Datum

Inch/Pound to SI

Multiply By To obtain inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm) foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m) mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km) mile per hour (mi/hr) 1.609 kilometer per hour (km/hr) cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.028317 cubic meter per second (m3/s)

1 knot = 1.1507 miles per hour

0.01 millibar = 1 pascal

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29). Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). Contents v

Abbrevations and Acronyms

NASA National Aeronotics and Space Administration

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NWIS National Water Information System

NWS National Weather Service

nmi nautical mile

NWFWMD Northwest Florida Water Management District

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale) Indicating Tornado Intensity

[Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2010, accessed May 12, 2010, at http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/ef-scale.html. EF, Enhanced Fujita Scale]

Operational EF scale EF scale 3 second gust EF 0 65-85 mph EF 1 86-110 mph EF 2 111-135 mph EF 3 136-165 mph EF 4 166-200 mph EF 5 Over 200 mph vi Floods in Florida due to Tropical Storm Faykiisa ub /dkieus SYW RI /REIOUXk /arien /dT

Acknowledgments

The manuscript review and assessment from National Weather Service personnel Stacy Stewart, Joel Lanier, Irv Watson, Paul Duval, and Mike Jamski was much appreciated. The input from these meteorological experts greatly enhanced the scientific merit of this report. Technical advisement and manuscript review from U.S. Geological Survey personnel Leroy Pearman, Stewart Tomlinson, and Eduardo Patino strengthened the presentation of the material. Floods in Florida due to Tropical Storm Fay, August 15 through September 26, 2008

By Richard J. Verdi and Sandra L. Holt

Abstract

Weather conditions produced by Tropical Storm Fay from August 15 through September 26, 2008, caused historic flooding, spawned 19 tornadoes, inflicted $390 million in damages, and contributed to five deaths in Florida. This slow-moving system made four separate landfalls accompanied by extensive rainfall and some wind-induced effects. Major flooding with new period-of-record instantaneous peaks and maximum monthly mean streamflows were reported throughout the Ochlockonee and St. Marks Rivers in the Florida Panhandle and the St. Marys, St. Johns, Econlockhatchee, and Wekiva Rivers in northeastern Florida. A total of 147 field crews from the U.S. Geological Survey in Florida made flood measurements immediately following passage of Tropical Storm Fay and continued to monitor high-water conditions for the subsequent 24 days. These measurements were used to verify and document the ratings and the peaks of this climatic event throughout the State. 2 Floods in Florida due to Tropical Storm Fay

Introduction

The prevention and mitigation of flooding and associated property losses are primary objectives of local, State, and Federal agencies. Tropical Storm Fay affected Florida from August 15 through September 26, 2008, when it made landfall on four separate occasions: 1. The lower keys near Key West, 2. South of Naples at Cape Romano, 3. Near Daytona Beach, and 4. Near Carrabelle (fig. 1). Rainfall was heavy and widespread reaching more than 24 inches (in.) in some places, such as Melbourne (27.65 in.) and Cape Canaveral (25.01 in.; table 1). Runoff associated with the storm produced record maximum monthly mean streamflow and new period-of-record instantaneous maximum streamflows at the St. Marks River near Newport and the Ochlockonee River near Concord in the Florida Panhandle (table 2). Most of the property damage throughout the State was caused by rainfall-induced flooding and some wind-induced effects.

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this report is to document the extreme storm and flood conditions caused byTropical Storm Fay. The objectives of this report are to: 1. Present an overview of the hydrologic data collected during and after the landfalls of Tropical Storm Fay; 2. Provide engineers, scientists, emergency management operators and regulators, and the general public with a better understanding of the effects of the flooding from this storm; and 3. Compare this event to historical storm-flood events.

95° 90° 85° 80° 75° 70° 65° 60° 40° KY 28 WV 24 AL OK GA AR TN VA 27 MS NC Carabelle TX 23 30° LA 26 Apalachee AL SC Bay 22 35° 25 GA Daytona FL21 24 Beach Lake 20 Okeechobee Naples Figure 1. The 23 Cape Romano 25° 22 19 track of Tropical 21 FL Key West 30° Storm Fay in 20 Atlantic Ocean 986 mb EXPLANATION August 2008. TROPICAL STORM FAY, August 15-26, 2008 (Modified from Gulf of Mexico TROPICAL STORM Stewart and 19 TROPICAL Straits of Beven, 2009.) 20° Florida DEPRESSION EXTRATROPICAL 25° 0000 COORDINATED 16 UNIVERSAL TIME – Position and date MEXICO 18 1200 COORDINATED CUBA UNIVERSAL TIME – Position

15° Windward HAITI DOMINICAN El Cabo 20° 17 Passage REPUBLIC PUERTO RICO JAMAICA 16 Mona Passage 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 NAUTICAL MILES

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 MILES 90° 85° 80° 75° 70° 65° 60° Introduction 3

Table 1. Rainfall amounts recorded at National Weather Service weather stations for Tropical Storm Fay.

[Site numbers shown in figures 2A and 2B. Data from the National Weather Service (NWS) Hydrometeorological Prediction Center at http://www.hpc. ncep.noaa.gov]

Site Weather station Total rainfall number location (inches)

1 Melbourne, Florida 27.65 2 Thomasville, Georgia 27.50 3 Cape Canaveral, Florida 25.01 4 Satellite Beach, Florida 22.87 5 Cocoa Beach, Florida 22.26 NWS Sebastian/Scripps Space 6 22.25 Coast, Florida credit: 7 Port Canaveral, Florida 21.93 8 Palm Shores, Florida 21.42 9 Palm Bay, Florida 21.00 Photograph 10 Merritt Island, Florida 19.58 11 Sanford, Florida 18.27 12 DeLand, Florida 17.77 Approach 13 St. Marks, Florida 17.67 The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) staff consists of 14 Hobe Sound, Florida 14.80 highly skilled hydrographers and hydrologists trained to 15 Ft. Pierce, Florida 14.70 respond to flood hazards. A total of 147 USGS field crews 16 Okeechobee, Florida 13.82 from Florida—each crew consisting of two hydrographers for 17 Newton, Georgia 13.50 one day—were dispatched to make flood measurements imme- diately following passage of Tropical Storm Fay and during 18 Jacksonville, Florida 12.07 the subsequent 24 days. These high-water measurements were 19 Coolidge, Georgia 12.03 used to verify the ratings and the peaks of this storm event 20 Monticello, Florida 11.90 throughout the State. Field crews called office personnel at the 21 Valdosta, Georgia 11.67 end of each day to provide an update of which sites had been 22 Tallahassee, Florida 11.44 measured. Office personnel immediately posted these updates to the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) 23 Blakely, Georgia 10.85 where the public could retrieve these data within minutes of 24 Morgan, Georgia 10.83 release. 25 Wacissa, Florida 10.80 Data collected and evaluated by USGS hydrographers 26 Milford, Georgia 10.73 and hydrologists relative to extreme weather events such 27 Boynton Beach, Florida 9.51 as Tropical Storm Fay can be used to plan and prepare for 28 Immokalee, Florida 9.11 future storm response efforts. These data are typically used by emergency management operators to determine whether 29 Albany, Georgia 8.68 road closures are necessary. These data also are used by the 30 Gainesville, Florida 8.25 National Weather Service to forecast flooding for a specific 31 Naples, Florida 7.96 stream that may adversely impact downstream residents, thus 32 Orlando, Florida 7.46 alerting emergency management officials of a potential need to 33 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 7.12 issue emergency evacuation notices. The Water Management Districts in Florida also use these data for regulatory purposes. 34 Cudjoe Key, Florida 7.02 For example, if a substantial amount of rain is forecasted, the 35 Big Pine Key, Florida 6.95 South Florida Water Management District may determine to 36 Miami, Florida 4.11 lower water levels in to prevent possible flooding in the area.

4 Floods in Florida due to Tropical Storm Fay

Table 2. National Weather Service and U.S. Geological Survey stations referenced in this report.

[Site numbers shown in figures 2A and 2B; NWS, National Weather Service]

Site Station Station name number number

1 NWS Melbourne, Florida 2 NWS Thomasville, Georgia 3 NWS Cape Canaveral, Florida 4 NWS Satellite Beach, Florida 5 NWS Cocoa Beach, Florida 6 NWS Sebastian/Scripps Space Coast, Florida 7 NWS Port Canaveral, Florida 8 NWS Palm Shores, Florida 9 NWS Palm Bay, Florida 10 NWS Merritt Island, Florida 11 NWS Sanford, Florida 12 NWS DeLand, Florida 13 NWS St. Marks, Florida 14 NWS Hobe Sound, Florida 15 NWS Ft. Pierce, Florida 16 NWS Okeechobee, Florida 17 NWS Newton, Georgia 18 NWS Jacksonville, Florida 19 NWS Coolidge, Georgia 20 NWS Monticello, Florida 21 NWS Valdosta, Georgia 22 NWS Tallahassee, Florida 23 NWS Blakely, Georgia 24 NWS Morgan, Georgia 25 NWS Wacissa, Florida 26 NWS Milford, Georgia 27 NWS Boynton Beach, Florida 28 NWS Immokalee, Florida 29 NWS Albany, Georgia 30 NWS Gainesville, Florida 31 NWS Naples, Florida 32 NWS Orlando, Florida 33 NWS Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 34 NWS Cudjoe Key, Florida 35 NWS Big Pine Key, Florida 36 NWS Miami, Florida 37 02234435 Outlet near Sanford, Florida 38 02319800 at Dowling Park, Florida Introduction 5

Table 2. National Weather Service and U.S. Geological Survey stations referenced in this report.—Continued

[Site numbers shown in figures 2A and 2B; NWS, National Weather Service]

Site Station Station name number number

39 02320000 Suwannee River at Luraville, Florida 40 02323000 Suwannee River near Bell, Florida 41 02323592 Suwannee River above Gopher River near Suwannee, Florida 42 02327031 Creek near Spring Creek, Florida 43 02329000 Ochlockonee River near Havana, Florida 44 02358000 at Chattahoochee, Florida 45 02358789 at Marianna, Florida 46 02359000 Chipola River near Altha, Florida 47 02365200 near Pittman, Florida 48 02228500 North Prong St. Marys River at Moniac, Georgia 49 02231000 St. Marys River near Macclenny, Florida 50 02231342 Fort Drum Creek near Fort Drum, Florida 51 02232000 St. Johns River near Melbourne, Florida 52 02232400 St. Johns River near Cocoa, Florida 53 02232500 St. Johns River near Christmas, Florida 54 02233500 near Chuluota, Florida 55 02234000 St. Johns River above Lake Harney near Geneva, Florida 56 02234384 Soldier Creek near Longwood, Florida 57 02234500 St. Johns River near Sanford, Florida 58 02235000 near Sanford, Florida 59 02235200 Blackwater Creek near Cassia, Florida 60 02236000 St. Johns River near De Land, Florida 61 02249500 Crane Creek at Melbourne, Florida 62 02250030 Turkey Creek at Palm Bay, Florida 63 02252500 North Canal near Vero Beach, Florida 64 02256500 at Palmdale, Florida 65 02262900 Boggy Creek near Taft, Florida 66 02270500 Arbuckle Creek near DeSoto City, Florida 67 02326900 St. Marks River near Newport, Florida 68 02328522 Ochlockonee River near Concord, Florida 69 02329600 Little River near Midway, Florida 70 02330000 Ochlockonee River near Bloxham, Florida 71 02245500 South Fork near Penney Farms, Florida 72 02274010 Taylor Creek near Okeechobee, Florida 73 02272650 Fish Slough near Basinger, Florida 74 02291500 near Bonita Springs, Florida 6 Floods in Florida due to Tropical Storm Fay

. 87° 86° 85° 84° 83° 82° 81° Turner Liberty Pike Barbour Randolph Lee Ben Hill Jeff Davis Appling Clarke Monroe Butler Terrell Long A Crenshaw Clay 24 29 Irwin Henry Dougherty Worth Coffee Bacon Wayne Conecuh Coffee Dale Calhoun Tift Covington 23 Baker Pierce McIntosh Early 26 17 Berrien Atkinson Cook Glynn Escambia Miller Colquitt Geneva Houston Mitchell Ware Brantley 31° ALABAMA Escambia Figure 2. The E Thomas r r

Santa Lanier s e eFLORIDA Holmes c v v e 19 i i Jackson Decatur Clinch Camden a Rosa al iver e 47 Charlton

m R R o R h Grady Brooks h locations of the bi er c a at S t 2 w a R ck w 21

o h 45 68 River i a l

Baldwin l el Echols v Lowndes Y w

B 44 streamgages and e Walton r G E O R G I A Okaloosa a e Nassau r t Gadsden v Monticello c 46 i Hamilton o R 43 Leon h Washington 69 e Madison 48 weather gages in C Calhoun e 22 20 on k Tallahassee Suwannee c 70 18 A, north and o 25

l Baker Jacksonville

h 49 Duval

Bay c 67

Columbia Atlantic Ocean O Wakulla Jefferson Taylor r B, south Florida.

Liberty 38 39 e

30° v Lafayette i 71 R EXPLANATION Union Gulf 42 13

Franklin Clay s n

47 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SURFACE WATER r Sa Bradford Gilchrist h e nta St. v F o GAGING STATION – Site number in table 2 i e R J R High i 30 ver Johns e Springs e 40 Putnam NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEATHER n 95 Dixie . n Alachua t 13 STATION – Site number in tables 1 and 2 a S w Flagler u Gulf of Mexico S 0 50 MILES Levy 41 75 Volusia 0 50 KILOMETERS Marion 29° Yankeetown 60 Lake 12 Base modified from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1985 Albers NAD projection 1983 83° 82° 81° 80° Levy Marion Withlacooc 12 29° he Yankeetown e 60 B R 59 Volusia 95 iv e 57 11 37 Data Collection r 55 Citrus 58 Seminole 56 The USGS in cooperation with local, State, and Lake 54 Sumter 32 Orlando 3 Hernando 53 Federal agencies operates a network of approximately 65 Orange 10 7 450 continuous-record streamflow-gaging stations in 75 Cocoa Beach Pasco 52 5 8 Florida. Several types of hydrologic data are collected Atlantic Ocean Polk 51 4 28° 1 Tampa Osceola 9 at these gages, including some or all of the following 61 62

properties: Pinellas Brevard K 6 i St. Petersburg s s Hillsborough i Indian 1. River level, m 63

m Okeechobee River

Highlands e

e Hardee 73 15 2. Water velocity, 66 50 F River i St. s 72 Sarasota h

e Lucie

a 16

3. Water temperature, De Soto t i n Sarasota g Martin 14 27° ufo MexicoGulf of Lake 95 Palmdale Creek 4. Salinity, Okeechobee 47 Charlotte Glades 64 Palm 5. Specific conductance, and Beach Fort Myers Hendry 6. Precipitation. Lee 27 74 28 Data are recorded at 60-, 30-, or 15-minute Collier Broward 33 75 intervals. All gages are equipped with real-time 31 Fort satellite telemetry and transmit data at intervals of 1 to 26° Lauderdale 4 hours. During critical events, such as floods or 36 extreme droughts, data can be transmitted as often as the Monroe Miami Miami-Dade recording interval of the data. These data are essential EXPLANATION 64 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SURFACE WATER for flood monitoring, emergency response, and control GAGING STATION – Site number in table 2 Homestead

operations for dam and reservoir systems. In August NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEATHER and September 2008, USGS field crews made discharge 31 STATION – Site number in tables 1 and 2 25° measurements at several gages during these floods to 0 50 MILES s ey 0 50 KILOMETERS K verify the upper end of the stage streamflow ratings and ida Flor to aid in extending the upper end (the part of the rating 34 that describes high discharge versus stage) of ratings for 35 gages reaching new maximum discharges. These data

contribute to the understanding of flood characteristics Base modified from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1985 and mitigation efforts. Data presented in this report Albers NAD projection 1983 include river levels and precipitation data that were collected from 34 USGS continuous-record streamflow- weather gages (table 2; fig. 2). The termwater year refers to gaging stations and 36 National Weather Service (NWS) the time period between October 1 and September 30. Storm Track 7

Storm Track

Tropical Storm Fay began as a fast-moving disturbance with little thunderstorm activity as it emerged off the coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean on August 6, 2008. However, convection increased as the storm speed decreased from 20-25 knots (kt) (or 23 to 29 miles per hour (mph)) to 10 to 15 kt (or 12 to 17 mph) on August 14 (Stewart and Beven, 2009). A strong subtropical ridge of high pressure to the north caused the storm to move westward through the Mona Passage and to make landfall as a tropical depression in the Dominican Republic near El Cabo on August 15 (fig. 1). Although the storm was moving over land, it gained tropical storm strength nearly 4 hours after landfall in the Dominican Republic with wind speeds near 40 mph (Stewart and Beven, 2009). The cyclone moved through the Windward Passage on August 16. Tropical Storm Fay continued to gain strength with sustained winds of 60 mph as it crossed the western part of Cuba and into the Florida Straits on August 18 (Stewart and Beven, 2009).

.

FLORIDA Figure 3. Satellite image of Tropical Storm Fay over Florida taken on August 21, 2008. (Image credit: NASA)

The center of Tropical Storm Fay made the first of four Florida landfalls during late evening on August 18 over the lower keys near Key West with sustained winds of 60 mph. Tropical Storm Fay then turned to the northeast and made its second Florida landfall early on August 19 at Cape Romano, south of Naples on the southwest coast of Florida (fig. 1). After crossing the western shores of Lake Okeechobee, the system strengthened to maximum wind speeds of 65 mph and displayed a well-defined eye in radar and Satellitesatellite photo courtesyimagery of NASA.(Stewart and Beven, 2009; fig. 3). East of Lake Okeechobee,T ropical Storm Fay weakened over land but re-entered the open Atlantic waters off the northeastern coast of Florida. The atmospheric steering currents weakened as a broad mid-level trough eroded the high pressure of the subtropical ridge over Florida causing the storm to turn northward at a speed of 3 to 4 kt (3.4 to 4.6 mph) and eventually making the third Florida landfall near Daytona Beach on August 21 (Stewart and Beven, 2009). Tropical Storm Fay tracked to the west-northwest and entered the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico at Apalachee Bay, thus making the fourth and final landfall in Florida onAugust 23 near Carrabelle in the Florida Panhandle. Tropical Storm Fay moved slowly to the west-northwest, then turned north and subsequently weakened to a tropical depression over land. The storm eventually deteriorated into a remnant low-pressure system over northern Alabama on August 26 (Stewart and Beven, 2009). 8 Floods in Florida due to Tropical Storm Fay

Rainfall and Runoff

The slow movement . 90° 80° 70° of Tropical Storm Fay WI MI PA produced damaging winds NJ and extensive flooding across OH MD DE parts of Florida. Total rainfall IN IL amounts ranged from 4 to VA 40° WV greater than 24 in. across parts of east-central Florida Atlantic Ocean KY NC and southern Georgia during MO Figure 4. Map August 19-29 (tables 1 and TN of accumulated 3; fig. 4). For example, the EXPLANATION rainfall totals NWS weather gage SC TROPICAL STORM FAY AR TRACK – August 19-29, 2008, during Tropical at Melbourne recorded at 4,431 sites. GA Storm Fay. 27.65 in. of rainfall dur- AL RAINFALL, IN INCHES (Modified from 1 or less >7 – 10 ing the event (table 1). The >1 – 3 >10 – 15 Stewart and rainfall and runoff associ- MS >3 – 5 >15 – 20 >5 – 7 >20 – 25 Beven, 2009.) ated with Tropical Storm

LA Fay in the Valley and Lake Okeechobee 30° recharged the lake storage FL (Stewart and Beven, 2009). Gulf of Mexico The Florida Panhandle, Big Bend area, and extreme 0 100 200 300 NAUTICAL MILES southern Georgia received 0 100 200 300 MILES substantial amounts of rain- fall that caused floods in the Ochlockonee River basin and

Figure 4 peak-of-record streamflow in the St. Marks River basin.

Table 3. Rainfall amounts recorded at U.S. Geological Survey streamflow gaging stations for Tropical Storm Fay.

[Site numbers shown in figure 2B. USGS, U.S. Geological Survey. Data from unpublished files of the U.S. Geological Survey]

Site USGS station Total rainfall Streamflow-gaging station number number (inches) 37 02234435 Lake Jesup Outlet near Sanford, Florida 19.31 71 02245500 South Fork Black Creek near Penney Farms, Florida 12.29 72 02274010 Taylor Creek near Okeechobee, Florida 17.75 73 02272650 Fish Slough near Basinger, Florida 12.14 38 02319800 Suwannee River at Dowling Park, Florida 5.41 39 02320000 Suwannee River at Luraville, Florida 9.29 40 02323000 Suwannee River near Bell, Florida 6.48 41 02323592 Suwannee River above Gopher River near Suwannee, Florida 8.52 42 02327031 Spring Creek near Spring Creek, Florida 10.44 43 02329000 Ochlockonee River near Havana, Florida 14.73 44 02358000 Apalachicola River at Chattahoochee, Florida 4.90 45 02358789 Chipola River at Marianna, Florida 6.07 46 02359000 Chipola River near Altha, Florida 5.84 47 02365200 Choctawhatchee River near Pittman, Florida 4.03 Casualties and Damages 9

Casualties and Damages

Floods associated with Tropical Storm Fay caused five deaths in Florida . and eight deaths throughout the Dominican Republic and Haiti in addition to considerable property Figure 5. A flooded damage (Stewart and Beven, 2009). The building at St. Johns storm spawned 19 tornadoes in Florida River near Christmas and 62 others across Georgia, North (02232500) on Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama. August 25, 2008. The majority of the tornadoes in Florida (Photograph credit: were classified as an Enhanced Fujita USGS) Scale rating of EF0; although a few were classified as EF1 and EF2, including an EF2 tornado that caused $1.25 million in damages to an equine clinic and other structures in Wellington and east of Wellington (Stewart and Beven, 2009). The primary causes of damage through- out Florida were rainfall-induced flood- ing that damaged residential structures, and wind speeds that resulted in downed trees and utility lines and minor roof damages to some structures. Figure 6. A flooded An estimated $562 million was roadway (Highway 46) reported in damages as a result of at the St. Johns River Tropical Storm Fay from across the above Lake Harney Southeastern United States: Florida (02234000) on ($390 million), Georgia ($50 million), August 28 , 2008. Alabama ($50 million), with additional (Photograph credit: losses reported by the National Flood USGS) Insurance Program ($72 million) (Stewart and Beven, 2009). Damaged and flooded roadways and structures near streams in northeastern Florida and the Florida Panhandle are shown in figures 5 through 9. Eastern Leon and Wakulla Counties experienced weeks of extensive closed basin flooding due to this tropical event (Joel Lanier, National Weather Service, oral commun., 2009). A closed basin is Figure 7. A flooded a basin with a closed drainage area structure at Arbuckle and no natural surface outlets. Road Creek near DeSoto damage caused by Tropical Storm Fay City (02270500) on is shown in figure 9. The photograph August 20, 2008. view is facing east and shows water (Photograph credit: moving from south to north along USGS) Weeping Willow Way in eastern Leon County. A sinkhole to the south of Weeping Willow Way began discharging groundwater that subsequently caused the road destruction (Joel Lanier, National Weather Service, oral commun., 2009). 10 Floods in Florida due to Tropical Storm Fay

Casualties and Damages—Continued

. Storm-drainage systems were overwhelmed by the widespread flooding associated with Tropical Storm Fay in several counties and towns across central and northeastern Florida. More than 130 residential homes in De Bary Figure 8. Flooded were damaged by floodwaters because property near the the storm-drainage system could not Ochlockonee River accommodate the high volume of water near Bloxham (Jackson, 2009). Officials for the City (02330000) on of De Bary were awaiting new pumps to August 25, 2008. be delivered and installed at the time of (Photograph credit: the storm, thus prompting city work- Bob Duggan, NWS, ers to snake hoses along roadways in Tallahassee, Florida) an effort to help carry water away from the overflowing ponds (Jackson, 2009). As a result of this flood associated with Tropical Storm Fay, the City of De Bary was granted $6.6 million in Federal aid to build a bigger and stronger drainage system (Jackson, 2009). Residents in Seminole County experienced flooding along Lake Harney, which rose to record levels, as did and Mullet Lake. In Chuluota, a culvert collapsed and destroyed part of the road above it (Jackson, 2009); thus, a new 70-acre retention pond is being constructed as well as a new pump station that can manage up to 12 in. of daily rainfall to Figure 9. A washed- alleviate future flooding (Jackson, 2009). out road at Weeping Residents in Casselberry experienced Willow Way in flooding along Gee Creek (Jackson, eastern Leon County 2009). In response to this storm event, on August 24, 2008. the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Photograph credit: provided $1 million to line Gee Creek Jason Elliot, NWS, with erosion-preventing plants and wire- Huntsville, Alabama) mesh boxes of rocks to alleviate future flooding along this waterway. Damages at Altamonte Springs included a lift station (that is, a tank or chamber accompanied by a pump and controls that are used to retain and periodically discharge wastewater effluent) that was flooded, which threatened to backup sewage into homes. An amphitheatre near the Altamonte Mall also flooded (Jackson, 2009). River Discharges and Water Levels 11

River Discharges and Water Levels

River and stream conditions across Florida averaged below normal during the months leading to the landfall of Tropical Storm Fay. Most streams in northeastern Florida and the Florida Panhandle area had below average monthly mean streamflow during the months prior to this storm event. Monthly flow at the St. Marys River near Macclenny gage (station 02231000; period of record 1927-2008) averaged 17 percent of normal in May and 12 percent of normal in June. The Arbuckle Creek near DeSoto City gage (station 02270500; period of record 1939-2008) averaged 8 percent of normal in May and 5 percent of normal in June. The Ochlockonee River near Havana gage (station 02329000; period of record 1926-2008) averaged 30 percent of normal in May, 20 percent of normal in June, and 21 percent of normal in July (fig.10). Some gage sites even reached zero flow for at least part of the event time, such as the at Worthington Springs gage (station 02321500), which reached zero flow for the period from June 7-11. Several sites recorded peak-of-record river levels and discharges during the event (table 4) and(or) period-of-record maximum monthly mean discharges during August or September 2008 following the event (table 5).

.

Figure 10. View looking upstream from underneath the Highway 27 bridge at Ochlockonee River near Havana during low flow on June 3, 2008. (Photograph credit: Erik Ohlson, USGS, Tallahassee, Florida)

Instantaneous Peak Streamflows and Water Levels

Instantaneous peak is defined as a local maximum value in the continuous time series of streamflow or river-level measurements, preceded by a period of increasing values, and then followed by a period of decreasing values (U.S. Geological Survey, 2004). Peaks from floods caused by rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Fay were among the highest for the periods of record for several gages across northeastern Florida and the Florida Panhandle. Some record peak discharges and other notable peaks were observed at sites in the Ochlockonee and St. Marks River basins in the Florida Panhandle and the St. Marys, St. Johns, Econlockhatchee, and Wekiva River basins in northeastern Florida. In the Florida Panhandle area, the St. Marks River near Newport gage (station 02326900) recorded a peak discharge of 5,890 cubic feet per second (ft3/s) and a river level of 17.39 feet (ft) above the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 on August 25. 12 Floods in Florida due to Tropical Storm Fay

Table 4. Peak discharges, river levels, and exceedance probabilities produced by Tropical Storm Fay compared to period-of-record peak discharges and exceedance probabilites for selected sites in Florida.

[Site locations shown in figures 2A and 2B. USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; NGVD 29, National Geodetic Vertical Datum for 1929; --, no data]

Peak of event Site USGS Period Peak Peak Exceed- num- station Streamflow-gaging station of record dis- river level ance Date Date ber number through 2008 charge (feet above probabil- (ft3/s) NGVD 29) ity1

North Prong St. Marys River at Moniac, 48 02228500 1921-2008 5,740 08/24/08 108.55 08/24/08 0.04-0.02 Georgia 49 02231000 St. Marys River near Macclenny, Florida 1927-2008 20,500 08/24/08 61.14 08/24/08 0.1-0.04 50 02231342 Fort Drum Creek near Fort Drum, Florida 1977-2008 22,360 08/20/08 39.88 08/20/08 <0.01 51 02232000 St. Johns River near Melbourne, Florida 1939-2008 36,800 08/28/08 419.34 08/31/08 0.2-0.1 52 02232400 St. Johns River near Cocoa, Florida 1954-2008 36,510 09/06/08 417.11 08/31/08 0.2-0.1 53 02232500 St. Johns River near Christmas, Florida 1933-2008 38,500 08/22/08 412.09 08/31/08 0.10 Econlockhatchee River near Chuluota, 54 02233500 1936-2008 8,730 08/23/08 19.68 08/23/08 0.04-0.02 Florida St. Johns River above Lake Harney near 55 02234000 1941-2008 310,800 09/06/08 411.15 08/30/08 0.1-0.04 Geneva, Florida 56 02234384 Soldier Creek near Longwood, Florida 1972-2008 2762 08/21/08 14.48 08/21/08 -- 57 02234500 St. Johns River near Sanford, Florida 1941-2008 312,800 09/01/08 47.89 09/03/08 0.1-0.04 58 02235000 Wekiva River near Sanford, Florida 1936-2008 1,800 08/22/08 11.25 08/22/08 0.02 59 02235200 Blackwater Creek near Cassia, Florida 1967-2008 811 08/26/08 28.68 08/26/08 0.04-0.02 60 02236000 St. Johns River near DeLand, Florida 1934-2008 314,700 09/02/08 45.44 09/04/08 0.04 61 02249500 Crane Creek at Melbourne, Florida 1951-2008 21,550 08/20/08 15.29 08/20/08 <0.01 62 02250030 Turkey Creek at Palm Bay, Florida 1981-2008 2,35,530 08/20/08 9.05 08/20/08 -- 63 02252500 North Canal near Vero Beach, Florida 1951-2008 3915 08/20/08 12.06 08/20/08 -- 64 02256500 Fisheating Creek at Palmdale, Florida 1931-2008 4,560 08/22/08 34.93 08/22/08 0.5-0.2 65 02262900 Boggy Creek near Taft, Florida 1959-2008 1,150 08/24/08 68.72 08/24/08 0.2-0.1 Arbuckle Creek near DeSoto City, 66 02270500 1939-2008 32,660 08/20/08 42.91 08/20/08 0.5-0.2 Florida Imperial River near Bonita Springs, 1940-1954; 74 02291500 1,430 08/26/08 13.08 08/26/08 0.2-0.1 Florida 1988-2008 67 02326900 St. Marks River near Newport, Florida 1957-2008 25,890 08/25/08 17.39 08/25/08 <0.01 68 02328522 Ochlockonee River near Concord, Florida 1999-2008 254,400 08/25/08 115.52 08/25/08 -- 43 02329000 Ochlockonee River near Havana, Florida 1926-2008 37,400 08/25/08 93.04 08/25/08 0.02-0.01 69 02329600 Little River near Midway, Florida 1965-2008 24,500 08/24/08 83.52 08/24/08 0.1-0.04 Ochlockonee River near Bloxham, 70 02330000 1926-2008 46,600 08/26/08 50.31 08/26/08 0.04-0.02 Florida

1Based on period of record data to 2006. 2Indicates new period-of-record maximum instantaneous discharge. 3Indicates value is a daily mean. 4Indicates peak river level occurred on a different day than peak discharge. Data computed using index-velocity method.

River Discharges and Water Levels 13

Table 4. Peak discharges, river levels, and exceedance Instantaneous Peak Streamflows and probabilities produced by Tropical Storm Fay—Continued Water Levels —Continued

The discharge is the peak of record for this site for the period of record from 1957-2008. Personnel from the USGS and Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD) Period-of-record peak discharges made four streamflow measurements—two measurements on Peak Exceed- August 25, one measurement on August 26, and one measure- Mag- river level ance ment on August 28—that verified this highest period-of-record nitude Date Date (feet above probabil- peak. These high river levels can be attributed to backwater (ft3/s) NGVD 29) ity1 affects from State Road 98. The peak runoff occurred during a 7-day period that was followed by an extended supplemental recession at the New Port gage (Joel Lanier, National Weather 11,600 04/05/73 112.38 04/05/73 <0.01 Service, oral commun., 2009). An event of this magnitude has a less than 1 percent chance of being exceeded in any given 28,100 09/25/47 63.25 09/13/64 0.04-0.02 year (table 4). Peak discharges, river levels, and exceedance 1,470 09/27/04 39.09 09/27/04 0.1-0.04 probabilities at selected sites in Florida produced by the 318,000 10/18/56 20.86 09/30/60 <0.01 flooding associated with the landfall of Tropical Storm Fay 310,700 10/11/53 16.96 10/11/53 0.04-0.02 are shown in table 4. 311,600 10/11/53 12.43 09/28/60 0.04-0.02 The Ochlockonee River near Concord gage (station 02328522; period of record 1999-2008) recorded a peak-of- 11,000 03/18/60 20.83 03/18/60 0.02-0.01 record discharge of 54,400 ft3/s on August 25 (figs. 11 and 12; table 4). The Ochlockonee River near Havana gage (station 314,500 09/26/04 10.62 10/13/53 <0.01 02329000; period of record 1926-2008) had its second highest peak-of-record discharge, 37,400 ft3/s, on August 25 605 11/25/92 14.41 09/13/73 -- (fig. 13). Field crews from USGS made a discharge measure- 17,500 10/14/53 8.5 10/14/53 0.02-0.01 ment on August 26 that verified the upper end of the rating 2,060 09/17/45 11.05 09/12/60 <0.01 and the peak. An event of this magnitude has a 1 to 2 percent 835 10/01/04 28.48 09/01/68 0.02 chance of being exceeded in any given year (table 4). Previously, the peak-of-record discharge at the gaging 317,100 10/15/53 45.97 10/11/53 0.02-0.01 station on the Ochlockonee River near Havana was 831 09/26/04 13.98 10/24/05 0.1-0.04 55,900 ft3/s recorded on April 4, 1948 (table 4). An event 34,050 09/26/04 8.16 09/26/04 -- of this magnitude has a less than 1 percent chance of being 31,580 09/24/60 11.94 10/04/00 -- exceeded in any given year (table 4). The loss of water 31,400 10/03/51 39.63 10/03/51 <0.01 between the gaging station near Concord and the gaging station near Havana is most likely attributed to attenuation 3,680 03/18/60 69.72 03/18/60 <0.01 or storage between the two locations, although further 7,380 09/23/48 44.22 09/23/48 0.02-0.01 research is needed to substantiate this process. In northeastern Florida, the Wekiva River near Sanford 2,890 09/12/40 13.68 10/15/95 0.04-0.02 gage (station 02235000; period of record 1936-2008) had a peak discharge of 1,800 ft3/s on August 22. USGS person- 4,750 04/07/73 15.34 04/07/73 0.04-0.02 nel made three additional measurements between August 23 23,700 07/13/05 111.31 07/13/05 -- and September 8 that verified the rating at the peak and the 55,900 04/04/48 94.44 04/04/48 <0.01 subsequent decline in water levels after the event. An event 49,200 09/22/69 86.25 09/22/69 0.02-0.01 of this magnitude has a 2 percent chance of being exceeded in any given year (table 4). The Econlockhatchee River near 89,400 09/25/69 53.89 09/23/69 <0.01 Chuluota gage (station 02233500; period of record 1936-2008) had a peak discharge of 8,730 ft3/s on August 23 that was the fifth highest peak in the 74-year period of record and the highest peak discharge since March 18, 1960. A streamflow of this magnitude has a 2 to 4 percent chance of being exceeded in any given year (table 4). The St. Johns River near Sanford gage (station 02234500; period of record 1941-2008) had a peak daily discharge1 of 12,800 ft3/s on September 1 that was 14 Floods in Florida due to Tropical Storm Fay

Instantaneous Peak . Streamflows and Water Levels —Continued

the fourth highest in the 67-year period of record (table 4; fig. 14). An event of Figure 11. View this magnitude has a 4 to 10 percent looking downstream chance of being exceeded in a given from Highway 12 at year (table 4). The peak daily mean the Ochlockonee discharge1 from the event at the River near Concord St. Johns River near DeLand gage on August 25, 2008. (station 02236000; period of record (Photograph credit: 1934-2008) was 14,700 ft3/s recorded Erik Ohlson, USGS, on September 2. USGS field crews made Tallahassee, Florida) three measurements between August 25 and September 9 that verified the rating and peak for this gage. A streamflow of this magnitude has a 4 percent chance of being exceeded during a given year (table 4).

Table 5. New maximum monthly mean discharges produced by Tropical Storm Fay and the previous maximum and year of occurrence.

[Site locations shown in figures 2A and 2B. USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; ft3/s, cubic feet per second]

Previous Month of maximum Period occurrence Site USGS Dis- monthly Year of of record of maximum num- station Streamflow-gaging station charge mean dis- occur- through monthly ber number (ft3/s) charge for rence 2008 mean the month discharge (ft3/s)

48 02228500 North Prong St. Marys River at Moniac, Georgia 1921-2008 August 1,360 726 1971 49 02231000 St. Marys River near Macclenny, Florida 1927-2008 August 4,490 3,300 1945 50 02231342 Fort Drum Creek near Fort Drum, Florida 1977-2008 August 363 222 1995 51 02232000 St. Johns River near Melbourne, Florida 1939-2008 August 2,910 2,700 2002 52 02232400 St. Johns River near Cocoa, Florida 1954-2008 September 5,410 5,050 1960 54 02233500 Econlockhatchee River near Chuluota, Florida 1936-2008 August 1,900 1,440 2003 St. Johns River above Lake Harney near 55 02234000 1941-2008 September 8,520 7,420 2004 Geneva, Florida August 90.6 44.0 2003 56 02234384 Soldier Creek near Longwood, Florida 1972-2008 September 93.4 80.2 2004 58 02235000 Wekiva River near Sanford, Florida 1936-2008 August 627 592 2003 59 02235200 Blackwater Creek near Cassia, Florida 1967-2008 August 236 166 2005 60 02236000 St. Johns River near DeLand, Florida 1934-2008 September 12,100 1960 61 02249500 Crane Creek at Melbourne, Florida 1951-2008 August 146 49.0 1966 62 02250030 Turkey Creek at Palm Bay, Florida 1981-2008 August 874 725 1995 63 02252500 North Canal near Vero Beach, Florida 1951-2008 August 168 119 1981 67 02326900 St. Marks River near Newport, Florida 1957-2008 September 1,660 1,560 1957 68 02328522 Ochlockonee River near Concord, Florida 1999-2008 August 4,630 2,600 2003 69 02329600 Little River near Midway, Florida 1965-2008 August 1,740 1,620 1994 River Discharges and Water Levels 15

In southwestern Florida, the Imperial River near Bonita Springs gage . (station 02291500; period of record A 1940-1954 and 1988-2008) had a peak discharge of 1,430 ft3/s on August 26. An event of this magnitude has a 10 to 20 percent chance of being exceeded in any given year (table 4). Other basins, such as the Suwannee River basin, were not severely affected by the flooding associated with Tropical Storm Fay. Although rainfall Figure 12. Flooded from the storm did not affect the upper roadways, A and B, part of this basin, river levels returned on the Ochlockonee to near normal conditions as a result of River near Concord. rainfall associated with Tropical Storm (Photograph credit: B Fay. These normal conditions occurred Erik Ohlson, USGS, because extremely dry conditions had Tallahassee, Florida) persisted throughout the region prior to the storm.

1 Station is tidally affected; therefore, the published peak discharge is a daily mean.

. C A

Figure 13. Flooded property along the Ochlockonee River near Havana on August 25, 2008, and the Havana gaging station at Highway 27 on August 26, 2008. (Photograph credits: B A and B, Kelly Godsey, NWS, Tallahassee, Florida; C, Erik Ohlson, USGS, Tallahassee, Florida) 16 Floods in Florida due to Tropical Storm Fay

Monthly Mean Streamflows

Monthly mean streamflow is defined as the arithmetic average of the daily mean discharges during a given month. Rainfall and runoff associated with Tropical Storm Fay produced higher than normal monthly mean streamflows for many gage sites across northeastern Florida and the Florida Panhandle. Several gaging stations recorded peak-of-record, monthly mean stream- flows for August and(or) September. For example, The St. Marys River near Macclenny gage (station 02231000) in northeastern Florida reached a new August maximum monthly mean streamflow of 4,490 ft3/s. The previous record was 3,300 ft3/s set in 1945 (table 5). The St. Johns River near DeLand gage (station 02236000) reached a new September maximum monthly mean streamflow of 12,800 ft3/s. The previous record was 12,100 ft3/s set in 1960 (table 5). The St. Marks River near Newport gage (station 02326900) in the Florida Panhandle reached a new September maximum monthly mean streamflow of 1,660 ft3/s. The previous record was 1,560 ft3/s set in 1957 (table 5).

Table 6. Relation of period of record August and September combined monthly mean discharge to combined mean discharge for August and September 2008 following passage of Tropical Storm Fay.

[Site locations shown in figures 2A and 2B. USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; ft3/s, cubic feet per second]

Period 2008 of record Period combined Site USGS combined of record monthly Percent of num- station Streamflow-gaging station monthly through mean average ber number mean 2008 discharge discharge (ft3/s) (ft3/s)

48 02228500 North Prong St. Marys River at Moniac, Georgia 1921-2008 406 1,620 399 49 02231000 St. Marys River near Macclenny, Florida 1927-2008 1,970 5,810 295 50 02231342 Fort Drum Creek near Fort Drum, Florida 1977-2008 201 412 205 51 02232000 St. Johns River near Melbourne, Florida 1939-2008 2,300 6,700 291 52 02232400 St. Johns River near Cocoa, Florida 1954-2008 2,930 8,060 275 53 02232500 St. Johns River near Christmas, Florida 1933-2008 3,780 10,300 272 54 02233500 Econlockhatchee River near Chuluota, Florida 1936-2008 1,160 2,600 224 55 02234000 St. Johns River above Lake Harney near Geneva, Florida 1941-2008 5,810 13,400 231 56 02234384 Soldier Creek near Longwood, Florida 1972-2008 46.9 184 392 57 02234500 St. Johns River near Sanford, Florida 1941-2008 6,480 16,000 247 58 02235000 Wekiva River near Sanford, Florida 1936-2008 701 1,030 147 59 02235200 Blackwater Creek near Cassia, Florida 1967-2008 177 484 273 60 02236000 St. Johns River near Deland, Florida 1934-2008 7,710 18,400 239 61 02249500 Crane Creek at Melbourne, Florida 1951-2008 58.1 195 336 62 02250030 Turkey Creek at Palm Bay, Florida 1981-2008 583 1,350 232 63 02252500 North Canal near Vero Beach, Florida 1951-2008 98.4 218 222 64 02256500 Fisheating Creek at Palmdale, Florida 1931-2008 1,260 2,040 162 65 02262900 Boggy Creek near Taft, Florida 1959-2008 248 503 203 66 02270500 Arbuckle Creek near DeSoto City, Florida 1939-2008 1,170 1,500 128 67 02326900 St. Marks River near Newport, Florida 1957-2008 1,520 3,310 218 68 02328522 Ochlockonee River near Concord, Florida 1999-2008 1,600 5,460 341 43 02329000 Ochlockonee River near Havana, Florida 1926-2008 1,430 5,460 382 69 02329600 Little River near Midway, Florida 1965-2008 627 1,940 309 70 02330000 Ochlockonee River near Bloxham, Florida 1926-2008 2,790 8,330 298 River Discharges and Water Levels 17

Combined monthly mean streamflows for August and September 2008 averaged above normal in the Ochlockonee and St. Marks River basins in the Florida Panhandle and in the St. Marys, St. Johns, and basins in northeastern Florida. Combined monthly mean streamflows ranged from 128 percent of average (1,500 ft3/s) at the Arbuckle Creek near DeSoto City gage (station 02270500; table 6) to 392 percent of average (184 ft3/s) at the Soldier Creek near Longwood gage (station 02234384; table 6). Combined monthly mean streamflow was 382 percent of average (5,460 ft3/s) at Ochlockonee River near Havana (station 02329000; table 6). Combined monthly mean streamflow was 295 percent of average (5,810 ft3/s) at the St. Mary’s River near Macclenny gage (station 02231000; table 6).

. A

Figure 14. The gage at St. Johns River near Sanford during A, normal conditions on April 25, 2008, and B, after Tropical Storm Fay on August 28, B 2008. (Photograph credits: USGS) 18 Floods in Florida due to Tropical Storm Fay

Summary References Cited

Rainfall-induced flooding and wind-induced effects Jackson, R., 2009, Can Fay happen again? Cities, from four separate landfalls made by Tropical Storm Fay counties ramp up flood control: Orlando Sentinel, in Florida during 2008 caused most of the $390 million in accessed August 5, 2009, at http://www.orlandosentinel. property damage throughout the State. The slow movement of com/community/altamontesprings/orl-hurricane-prepara- Tropical Storm Fay produced damaging winds and extensive tion-lid-072609,0,7857462.story?page=1. flooding across parts of Florida. All gages are equipped with real-time satellite telemetry and transmit data at intervals of National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2010, 1 to 4 hours. During critical events, such as floods or extreme Satellite image accessed August 9, 2010, at http://www. droughts, data can be transmitted as often as the recording nasa.gov/images/content/268457main_fay_amo_HI.jpg. interval of the data. These data are essential for flood monitor- ing, emergency response, and control operations for dam and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2010, reservoir systems. accessed May 12, 2010, at http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/ Rainfall totals, discharge comparisons, flood statistics, tornado/ef-scale.html. and river-level data from Tropical Storm Fay provided National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2009, valuable comparisons with historical storm-flood events and Glossary definitions, accessed August 17, 2009 at http:// validated new rainfall and flood records for many areas in www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutgloss.shtml. Florida. Rainfall totals during Tropical Storm Fay ranged from 4 to more than 24 inches in some locations throughout the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2009, State. Peaks of record occurred at the St. Marks River near Satellite image library, accessed August 17, 2009 at http:// Newport and the Ochlockonee River near Concord. The www.nhc.noaa.gov/. second highest peak of record occurred at the Ochlockonee River near Havana. River levels reached new maximum Stewart, S.R., and Beven II, J.L., 2009, Tropical Cyclone monthly means for August and September throughout the Report: Tropical Storm Fay: National Hurricane Center, St. Marys, St. Johns, Econlockhatchee, and Wekiva basins accessed February 11, 2009, at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ in northeastern Florida and the Ochlockonee and St. Marks pdf/TCR-AL062008_Fay.pdf. basins in the Florida Panhandle. Hydrologic data that is U.S. Geological Survey, 2004, Water Resources Data, Florida, collected and evaluated by the USGS relative to this storm Water Year 2004, Volume 4, Northwest Florida Water: U.S. and other extreme weather events contributes to a better Geological Survey Water-Data Report FL-0404. understanding of flood characteristics and flood mitigation efforts.

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For additional information, contact: Richard J. Verdi, Hydrologist U.S. Geological Survey 2639 North Monroe Street, Suite A-200 Tallahassee, FL 32303 (850) 553-3676 Phone (850) 553-3641 Fax Verdi, R.J., and Holt, S.L.—Floods in Florida due to Tropical Storm Fay, August 15 through September 26, 2008 —Open-File Report 2010-1142 Printed on recycled paper