After Isaias: Panhandle Rivers Rise Toward Sunday Crests as Cleanup Begins

The Weather Prediction Center (WPC), which took over advisories on Post-Tropical Cyclone Isaias from the National Hurricane Center, placed the center about 50 miles south of Birmingham, Alabama, at 10 AM CDT Saturday, October 10, with maximum sustained winds near 35 mph. WPC said significant river flooding across the western Florida Panhandle will crest today through Sunday. It expects 1 to 2 more inches of rain across the rest of the Southeast into northern Florida, with heavier totals in the southern Appalachians and the Carolinas.

National Weather Service river forecasts show where that water is going. The Shoal River near Mossy Head in Walton County was at 22.5 feet late Saturday morning, which is major flooding and just above its January 2010 crest of 22.3 feet. The Shoal River near Crestview is forecast to crest near 14.9 feet Sunday evening, in moderate flood. The Blackwater River near Baker and Big Coldwater Creek near Milton are forecast to crest Sunday morning. The Choctawhatchee River near Caryville is not expected to crest until Wednesday afternoon. Flood warnings are also in effect for Cypress Creek and the Anclote River in Pasco County and for the St. Johns River near Astor.

Cleanup has started across the Panhandle. The Pensacola News Journal reported more than 450,000 power outages in Florida Saturday morning, mostly in five Panhandle counties. Gov. Ron DeSantis said Interstate 10, U.S. 98, and all state bridges were open. In Pensacola, crews and residents spent Saturday clearing trees, power lines, and debris from roads.

If storm water got into your home or business, take photos for your insurance claim and start drying out as soon as it is safe. Florida Restoration Specialists does water extraction and drying in Lakeland and across Polk County. Call (863) 588-6617.

Sources: WPC Post-Tropical Cyclone Isaias Advisory #16 (10 AM CDT Oct. 10), NWS Tallahassee river flood warnings, NWS Mobile river flood warnings, NWS active Florida alerts, Pensacola News Journal: Panhandle begins assessing damage, CBS12: Isaias damage emerges across Pensacola.