Floods in Florida 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 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod To order USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. 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 Lake Harney 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 Ochlockonee River 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.