Extreme Storm Surge Warning for Coastal Jefferson: Evacuate Immediately

A Storm Surge Warning of Extreme severity has been issued for Coastal Jefferson County, effective immediately as of October 9 at 8:28 AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL. Life-threatening storm surge of 4-6 feet above ground is possible through Saturday morning. Residents in surge-prone areas who have not yet evacuated should complete preparations and be in shelters well away from potential flooding. Remain sheltered in a safe location and do not venture outside.

In addition to the extreme storm surge, a Flood Watch is in effect, with an additional 4-8 inches of rain expected, potentially causing major flooding. Evacuations and rescues are likely. Heed all flood watches and warnings, as failure to take action could result in serious injury or loss of life.

The situation is also favorable for several tornadoes, which could cause significant damage, power loss, and communications failures. Have a plan to shelter quickly if a tornado warning is issued. While winds are expected to remain below tropical storm force (10-20 mph with gusts to 35 mph), conditions may still be gusty. Officials are currently assessing realized wind impacts, with little to no additional wind impacts expected.

For more information and ongoing updates, visit the NWS Tallahassee website at weather.gov/tallahassee, the Florida Division of Emergency Management at floridadisaster.org, and Jefferson County Emergency Management at jeffersoncountyfl.gov/p/county-departments/emergency-management. This warning is set to expire on October 9, 2026, at 4:30 PM UTC.