Flood Warnings Hit Walton County Rivers Through Midweek
Two rivers in Walton County are under flood warnings this week, with the Shoal River already above flood stage and the Choctawhatchee expected to crest at 14.8 feet by Thursday.
DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, FLORIDA — Two flood warnings are in effect for rivers in Walton County as rising water threatens roads, bridges, and properties across the region, according to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee.
The Shoal River near Mossy Head at County Road 1087 is already experiencing minor flooding, with the river recorded at 14.8 feet as of 8:15 a.m. CDT Monday. Flood stage at that location is 14.0 feet.
Shoal River Rising Through Tuesday
The National Weather Service forecasts the Shoal River will climb to 15.0 feet by late Monday afternoon. If additional rainfall continues as expected, the river could reach 15.4 feet by Tuesday morning before dropping below flood stage late Tuesday evening.
The warning for the Shoal River near Mossy Head remains in effect until early Wednesday morning, June 24, at 3:54 a.m. EDT.
At 14.0 feet, water begins spilling into wooded areas along the river from New Harmony Road westward to Laird Road, according to the NWS alert. At 16.0 feet, the Hinote Road Bridge begins to flood and becomes subject to closure.
The current crest compares to a previous high of 15.5 feet recorded at the same location on February 26, 2013, according to NWS flood history records.
Choctawhatchee River Flooding Expected Later This Week
A separate flood warning issued at 9:40 a.m. EDT Monday covers the Choctawhatchee River near Bruce at State Road 20, affecting both Walton and Washington Counties. That warning runs from Wednesday morning until further notice.
As of 7:45 a.m. CDT Monday, the Choctawhatchee River stood at 9.5 feet — still well below its flood stage of 14.0 feet. However, the National Weather Service forecasts the river will rise above flood stage Wednesday morning and continue climbing to a crest of 14.8 feet Thursday afternoon.
When the river reaches 14.0 feet, Big Cedar Road, Cowford Road, and Choctawhatchee River Road in Walton County are expected to flood. Floodwaters would also impact storage areas beneath homes on the west banks of the Choctawhatchee River. In Washington County, low-lying areas along Strickland Road would become subject to flooding at that level, according to NWS.
The projected crest of 14.8 feet would exceed the previous recorded high of 14.6 feet set on November 13, 2015, at that gauge location.
Residents Urged to Monitor Conditions
Both warnings were issued by the National Weather Service office in Tallahassee. Residents in Walton and Washington Counties near the affected river corridors are advised to avoid flooded roadways and monitor updated forecasts from the National Weather Service at weather.gov/safety/flood.
