Forecast and Conditions for Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Updated: 7:37 AM CST on November 09, 2009
Observed at Cinco Bayou - Pocahontas Dr., Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Temperature 67.5 °F
Humidity 84%
Dew Point 62 °F
Wind East at 6.0 mph
Pressure 30.11 in (Rising)
Conditions Overcast
Visibility 10.0 miles
Clouds (FEW) : 4500 ft
Overcast (OVC) : 20000 ft
Yesterday's Maximum 75.8 °F
Yesterday's Minimum 57.6 °F
Normal high 70 °F
Normal low 51 °F
Record high 78 °F (1998)
Record low 37 °F (1997)
Sunrise06:07 AM (CST)
Sunset04:52 PM (CST)
Moon Rise11:51 PM (CST)
Moon Set12:23 PM (CST)
Moon Phase
Flash Flood Watch, Coastal Flood Watch
Statement as of 9:42 PM CST on November 8, 2009


... Flash Flood Watch in effect from Monday afternoon through
Tuesday morning...

The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a

* Flash Flood Watch for portions of Alabama and northwest
Florida... including the following areas... in Alabama...
Butler... Clarke... Conecuh... Covington... Crenshaw... Escambia...
lower Baldwin... lower Mobile... Monroe... upper Baldwin... upper
Mobile and Wilcox. In northwest Florida... coastal Escambia...
coastal Okaloosa... coastal Santa Rosa... inland Escambia...
inland Okaloosa and inland Santa Rosa.

* From Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning

* a Flash Flood Watch has been issued for eastern and coastal areas
of southwest Alabama generally east of the I-65 corridor including
Clark County in Alabama and all areas of northwest Florida from
midday Monday through midday Tuesday... due to excessive rainfall
from Ida. Ida is expected to move onshore early Tuesday morning
near the Florida Alabama border bringing heavy Rand bands to the
coastal areas of Florida and Alabama by mid afternoon on Monday
spreading inland over northwest Florida and parts of southwest
Alabama overnight and early Tuesday morning. Rainfall totals of 3
to 6 inches with locally higher amounts can be expected in watch
area... especially over the western Florida Panhandle.


Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead
to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should flash flood warnings be issued.






829 am CST sun Nov 8 2009

... Coastal Flood Watch remains in effect from 6 PM CST this
evening through late Monday night...

A coastal Flood Watch remains in effect from 6 PM CST this
evening through late Monday night.

The combination of strong easterly winds combined with high tide
levels is expected to create tide levels of 2 to 3 feet above
normal. This will create total tide levels of 3 to 4 feet. If Ida
is stronger than currently forecast across the southern Gulf...
the increased swell would cause even higher tide levels than the
current forecast.

Residents living in flood prone areas along the coastal sections
of Mobile and Baldwin counties... including Mobile Bay... along
with coastal sections of northwest Florida should take necessary
precautions to protect life and property in case these high tide
levels are reached.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A coastal Flood Watch means that conditions favorable for
flooding are expected to develop. Coastal residents should be
alert for later statements or warnings... and take action to
protect property.





Inland Hurricane Wind Warning, Hurricane Warning
Statement as of 5:39 am CST on November 9, 2009


... Hurricane wind warning now in effect until 2 PM CST Tuesday...
... Hurricane Warning remains in effect...

... New information...
Hurricane Ida was about 375 miles south of Pensacola at 3 am CST.
Movement was north northwest near 16 mph. Surf will increase during
the day and a large battering surf is expected from sunset through
the overnight hours. Surf heights of 10 to 15 feet possible from Fort
Morgan Alabama to Destin Florida. Surf heights of 3 to 5 feet
expected along Dauphin Island Alabama.


... Precautionary/preparedness actions...
precautionary/preparedness actions...

For those under a Hurricane Warning... now is the time to complete
preparations for the protection of life and property. Listen
carefully to the advice of local emergency management and evacuate if
directed to do so... especially if you live in an area prone to
coastal flooding. If you live on a boat... make final preparations for
securing your craft before leaving it. Be sure to account for the
possible closure of bridges and causeways. Regarding any coastal
waters under a warning... small craft should remain in port and well
secured. For additional precautionary and preparedness
information... please refer to the detailed recommendations relative
to your location as further described by your local National Weather
Service office and local emergency management.


... Winds...
as Hurricane Ida approaches... sustained tropical storm force
winds are expected to begin around sunset today. Strongest winds
occurring late tonight when winds near hurricane force are possible
for a few hours minor to moderate damage is likely to many Mobile
homes... especially those that have canopies... awnings... or carports.
Other homes may have minor roof and siding damage. Some loose
outdoor items will be tossed around and may cause additional damage.
A few power lines will be knocked down resulting in scattered power
outages. Some large branches of healthy trees will be snapped.

... Inland flooding...
heaviest rainfall will be along and to the right of the
track... some 3 to 6 inches of rainfall could occur east of
I-65... especially closer to the coast. A Flash Flood Watch is in
effect for part of southwest Alabama and the western Florida
Panhandle.



... Storm surge and storm tide...
total tide heights of 4 to 6 feet are possible from Fort Morgan to
Destin. The time of astronomical high tide on Tuesday will range
from 2 to 3 am across the region. This will exacerbate storm related
flooding since ida's forecast landfall is near this time. If Ida
moves in earlier... the time of astronomical high tide may coincide
with landfall which could raise the aforementioned values.

Total tide heights will gradually lower from Fort Morgan to the
west..with Dauphin Island ranging from 2 to 4 feet... still high
enough to send some water across the west end of the island.
&&

... Coastal hazards...
surf will increase during the day and a large battering surf is
expected from sunset through the overnight hours. Surf heights of 10
to 15 feet possible from Fort Morgan Alabama to Destin Florida. Surf
heights of 3 to 5 feet expected along Dauphin Island Alabama. The rip
current risk will be extreme and people should stay out of the
water.


... Tornadoes...
the risk of tornadoes is low... but if tornadoes do occur they will
mainly form in ida's outer rain bands from late today into Tuesday.
Tornadoes are most likely to occur in the northeast quadrant of the
storm and can happen a few hundred miles from the storms center.






Forecast as of 6:31 am CST on November 9, 2009

Now
The extreme outer rain bands of Hurricane Ida will move north across the offshore waters through mid morning. A buoy about 10 miles south of Orange Beach at sunrise was reporting a northeast wind 25 to 30 knots and 10 foot seas. Winds and waves will increase through the morning with rain beginning over the offshore waters before 8 am and reaching the beaches between 10 am and noon. Rain will initially be light and patchy but become steadier and heavier through the afternoon over the coastal counties.
Forecast as of 3:59 am CST on November 9, 2009

Hurricane wind warning in effect until 2 PM CST Tuesday...
Today
Tropical storm conditions expected with hurricane conditions possible. Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers in the morning...then rain showers likely and isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Northeast winds 25 to 30 mph becoming east 30 to 35 mph in the afternoon. Gusts up to 45 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
Tonight
Tropical storm conditions expected with hurricane conditions possible. Showers and isolated thunderstorms. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Near steady temperature in the mid 60s. East winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts to around 65 mph becoming 40 to 50 mph with gusts to around 75 mph after midnight. Chance of rain near 100 percent.
Tuesday
Tropical storm conditions expected with hurricane conditions possible. Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning...then slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Some thunderstorms may produce heavy rainfall in the morning. Highs in the lower 70s. Southeast winds 40 to 50 mph with gusts to around 75 mph becoming northwest 40 to 45 mph with gusts to around 60 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Tuesday Night
Tropical storm conditions possible. Cooler. Mostly cloudy in the evening then clearing. Lows 50 to 56. Northwest winds 25 to 30 mph with gusts to around 40 mph becoming north 15 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph after midnight.
Veterans Day
Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. North winds 15 to 20 mph becoming 5 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night
Clear. Lows 44 to 50.
Thursday
Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.
Thursday Night
Clear. Near steady temperature in the lower 50s.
Friday
Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s.
Friday Night
Clear. Lows in the mid 50s.
Saturday
Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s.
Sunday
Mostly sunny. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 20 percent.
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