Franklin Schools to close as county braces for floods

The Franklin County Schools will be closed Wednesday as the area braces for what the National Weather Service says could be extensive coastal flooding in the next two days.

A coastal flood warning is in effect from 7 p.m. Tuesday evening to 7 a.m. Thursday morning. A high surf advisory is in effect from 1 a.m. Wednesday morning to 1 a.m. Thursday.

The county’s emergency operations center issued a call for voluntary evacuation for the Alligator Point area beginning Wednesday morning, due to evacuation route vulnerability.

Strong southerly winds ahead of a low pressure system moving over the northern Gulf of Mexico are expected to lead to rising water levels and coastal flooding along the Franklin County shoreline.

The winds will whip up high surf likely to cause moderate beach erosion around the time of high tide. For Apalachicola, low tide is expected at 10:11 am. Wednesday, with high tide on Wednesday at 6:22 p.m. and on Thursday morning at 2:08 a.m.

The National Weather Service said Franklin County coastal residents can expect water levels as high as 3 feet above normal tide levels from Carrabelle westward to Indian Pass, and from Carrabelle eastward to Ochlockonee Bay. Tide levels may rise as much as 4 feet above normal.

The high surf is expected to impact county beaches beginning at Midnight Tuesday and throughout the day Wednesday. Surf heights will build to 6 to 8 feet during the strongest onshore winds Wednesday afternoon, with the highest surf at high tide. Moderate beach erosion is possible, especially on St. George Island.

A coastal flood warning means flooding is either occurring or is imminent, and residents are asked to be alert for rising water, and to take appropriate action to protect life and property.

Rainfall is expected to top total between 4 to 6 inches, with locally higher amounts up to 8 inches. The majority of the rain will occur Wednesday.

The potential exists for flash flooding in poorly drained areas on Wednesday, as squall lines move through the county. Do not attempt to drive through an area that is flooded as the depth of the water may be too great for a car to drive through safely.