Fort Pickens FL Flooded Again

[NORM_WADDELL]

From the Pensacola News Journal

Soggy Fort Pickens just can’t get a break.

The National Seashore park remains closed today because park roads, campgrounds, parking lots and boardwalks remain flooded, six days after the park closed at the end of the day on Aug. 16 ahead of a tropical system.

Seashore officials expected the main road to flood and be smothered in sand, as it often does these days, when big surf and high tide pushed a storm surge across it over the weekend.

But the 3-inches of rain that fell that weekend along with the rain that has fallen since, has left many areas of the park underwater, even though the sand has been removed from the main road.

Park rangers will assess the flooding situation Thursday, said seashore superintendent Dan Brown.

If the water has receded, the park might reopen to campers and visitors.

[Floridafrances]

Just heard on the news that they've re-opened Ft. Pickens, although some areas may still have some flooded spots. More rain in the forecast - 60% tomorrow and 50% on Saturday - but it drops to 20% by Monday and stays at that for several days. Hopefully things will continue to dry out.

[roam1]

Glad we are in Maine! :B hasn't rained in 2 weeks!

Barrier islands have a funny way of being under water from time to time.....

I used to live on that island until my house was under water....once was enough!

[howellma]

lets hope it dries up, i will be there next weekend!

[JohnBoyToo]

Send it our way !!!! lakes are down 14 feet or more and with another month of the high evaporation --- whew 🙂


but it's just weather - we get used to it !

[fla-gypsy]

Extremely wet season this summer in Florida but we had seen near drought conditions for a few years. Just a natural correction for water levels. The extreme rainfall amounts have impacted beach tourism to some degree as it has clouded the beautiful clear water typical of Florida beaches making them less desirable. Lake Okeechobee is also near flood stage and the flood gates are wide open dumping lake water into coastal beach and estuaries also adding to the problem in southern Florida. Some of the panhandle beach parks have been hard hit with rain.

[Floridafrances]

I live less than 10 miles from Ft. Pickens and I can tell you we have had amazing amounts of rain this summer. I can't recall the last time we were this wet for such an extended period. I've seen standing water in places on this island where I've never seen it the 23 years I've lived here.

Sure hope they're able to re-open soon. It's such a nice place to go and relax.

[Eycom]

During a normal rainy season, we will usually see between 35"-45" of rain across the State with the suburban areas receiving more than the coastal. Ft. Pickens seems to be in the unenviable position of receiving more than it's share this year. Either that, or it's a sinkhole waiting to happen.

[rocmoc]

We enjoyed Ft Pickens last winter. Beautiful park and well worth the stop.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

[agesilaus]

We are having lots of rain in Florida this summer, got 16in in July for example. And it's raining right now. A lot of springs are flooded and you should check park websites before driving a long way to visit one.

BK