Extreme Storm Surge Warning for Coastal Taylor: Evacuate if Ordered

A Storm Surge Warning has been issued for Coastal Taylor, including Keaton Beach and Steinhatchee, effective immediately as of October 8 at 5:03 AM EDT by the National Weather Service (NWS) Tallahassee, FL. This warning signifies an extreme threat with life-threatening storm surge possible, peaking at 4-6 feet above ground in surge-prone areas from Friday morning until Saturday morning.

Residents in these areas should plan for life-threatening storm surge flooding exceeding 3 feet above ground. Evacuation efforts and flood preparations must be completed before conditions become unsafe. If evacuation orders are given for your area, leave immediately to avoid being cut off from emergency services or risking lives.

In addition to the storm surge, moderate rainfall of 1-3 inches with locally higher amounts is expected, potentially leading to moderate flooding. A few tornadoes are also possible. Wind speeds are forecast to be below tropical storm force, 10-20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph, with little to no additional wind impacts expected beyond what has already been assessed.

For more information, visit NWS Tallahassee at weather.gov/tallahassee, the Florida Division of Emergency Management at floridadisaster.org, or Taylor County Emergency Management at taylorcountyem.com.