Recent Tropical Systems Bring Needed Rain To Florida

06/26/2012 6:00pm EDT Update: This update includes a news roundup, latest NWS rainfall totals graphic, some photos I took throughout the day. It is raining hard right now. Click here for the latest radar image loop.

Update: News Roundup – Latest forecast cone for Tropical Storm Debby.

Update: 5:00pm National Hurricane Center Public Advisory Summary.

Update: 17 Counties Are Under Weather Alerts: 17 Lake Wind Advisories, 21 Flood Warnings, 8 Special Weather Statements, 16 Flood Watches, 16 Hurricane Statements and 5 Flash Flood Warnings from justweather.com.

Update: Latest headlines from news4jax.com. Shelters open.

Update: 155 Photos/Images on iShot News: Your weather photos from WJXT Channel 4 Jacksonville.

Update: Rainfall totals for Tropical Storm Debby from 11:44pm edt Sat Jun 23 2012 to 5:12pm edt Tue Jun 26, 2012. Click here for the latest:

Rainfall totals for Tropical Storm Debby from 11:44pm edt Sat Jun 23 2012 to 5:12pm edt Tue Jun 26, 2012.

Update: Some photos I took throughout the day…

All Of The Rain Is Making Everything Nice And Green In Our Yard

This Afternoon On The Fuller Warren Bridge

This Afternoon At The I-295 & I-95 Interchange

This Morning On The I-295 – Southside Blvd Connector

06/26/2012 7:45am EDT Update: At my house on the south side of Mill Cove in Fort Caroline, I recorded 3.75″ of rainfall in the last 24 hours and a storm total of 8.25″ in the last 48 hours. More on the way!

Update: Roundup – 16 counties are under weather alerts

Update: Flooding closes I-10 in Baker County, voluntary evacuations near Black Creek, Debby stalls and rain continues to fall, 5 puppies die when shelter floods, Debby’s rains turn roads into rivers – from news4jax.com

10:00pm EDT Update: National Hurricane Center – Tropical Storm Debby Public Advisory of 9:00pm EDT.

NWS Regional Radar Image Loop.

8:30pm EDT Update: The Wakulla County Sherriffs Office is issuing a voluntary evacuation for homeowners along the upper St. Marks river, the Sopchoppy River, and the Ochlockonee river.

Update: Flash flood warning for Southeastern Leon County until 9:30pm EDT. Flash flood watch in effect parts of Florida’s Big Bend through Tuesday morning.

Update: Leon County Shelter to Open; The Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross has announced the opening of a shelter; The Florida High location has been designated as a pet-friendly shelter for this event only.

Update: Roundup of watches, warnings, and alerts from WJXT Channel 4 & justweather.com in Jacksonville: 4 flood advisories, 15 flood warnings, 7 tornado watches, 6 rip current statements, 2 wind advisories, 16 flood watches, 16 hurricane statements.

Update: 103 items submitted to iShot News: Your weather photos/video from WJXT Channel 4 in Jacksonville.

Update: Governor Rick Scott today signed Executive Order 12-140, declaring a statewide state of emergency. The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is operating at a Level One, full activation.

Update: Price gouging law in effect following State Of Emergency declaration.

Update:06-25-2012 6:00pm EDT: The latest National Hurricane Center forecast track for Debby

Debby Forecast Track From The National Hurricane Center 4:00pm EDT

I have been posting about Florida’s water woes lately and, thanks to Mother Nature, we have been getting much needed rain in Florida. Recent tropical systems have brought substantial amounts of rainfall to parts of Florida in just the right places.

Florida’s aquifer is recharged by rainfall. The aquifer is where water is drawn for drinking, showering, washing our cars, and watering our lawns, among other things. Levels in the Florida aquifer have been at historic lows in recent years. Florida has suffered several years of drought and Florida’s aquifer has been strained by over-development. These things, combined, have left Florida in a water crisis. Several recent rains events have helped but it is not enough as Florida is still in a drought.

Subtropical Storm Beryl brought nearly 12 inches of rain to my area in NE Florida and some areas received even more. Unfortunately, there was flooding and wind damage from Beryl. Damage from flooding can be minimized by smarter planning and development. Damage from wind can be minimized by smarter building standards. These things are in mind as Tropical Storm Debby sits in the Gulf of Mexico trying to decide which way to go. The latest forecast model from the National Hurricane Center shows Debby making landfall in the Florida Panhandle.

Tropical Storm Debby brought 4.5 inches of rain to my rain guage in the 24 hour period between 7:30am edt Sunday June 24 and 7:30am edt Monday June 25. As of 4:00pm Monday June 25 there is an additional .25 inches in my rain guage and more is on the way. I am located on the south side of Mill Cove in Fort Caroline along the St. Johns River. Other areas have received substantially more rainfall over the past day-and-a-half and, once again, there is localized flooding. I am thankful that Debby has not been a major wind event for my area…yet. Here is the latest radar loop for my area from the National Weather Service. I will post updates as more news comes in.

Following are some images beginning with the latest rainfall totals and some photos I took at area beaches today:

Rainfall totals for Tropical Storm Debby from 11:44pm edt Sat Jun 23 2012 to 3:53pm edt Mon Jun 25, 2012. Click here for the latest: