The National Weather Service kept a Severe Flood Watch in effect through 2:00 a.m. EDT on June 20 for the Florida Panhandle, southeast Alabama, and southwest Georgia, while an Extreme Tornado Watch remained in place until 5 p.m. CDT today for Escambia, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa counties in Florida. A new Flood Warning was issued for the Shoal River near Crestview in Okaloosa County, in effect through 4:00 a.m. CDT on June 23, signaling minor river flooding.
The overlapping alerts matter because excessive rainfall can overwhelm drainage, push creeks and streams out of their banks, and cause rapid-onset hazards as severe thunderstorms spin up tornadoes. Forecast guidance indicated widespread totals of 3–6 or 3–7 inches with localized amounts up to 12 inches under persistent bands, sustaining a high threat into Friday night given saturated soils and limited absorption. Last update: June 20, 2026.
Flood and tornado watch timing across the Panhandle
Forecasters anticipated multiple rounds of rain from midweek through late Friday night, with reasonable high-end totals of 8–12 inches. The most intense rain bands varied by location, with the greatest risk persisting into the overnight period before the flood watch’s scheduled expiration at 2:00 a.m. EDT on June 20. The tornado watch until 5 p.m. CDT covered Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Crestview, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, and nearby communities where storms could intensify quickly.
Under the heavy-rain pattern, high rainfall rates threatened flash flooding in urban neighborhoods and along waterways, with poor drainage leading to travel disruptions and temporary access issues near rivers and creeks. Residents were urged to identify safe shelter on the lowest floor interior rooms, maintain multiple alert methods, and be prepared for Flood Warnings if bands stalled or intensified.
Counties under watch in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia
In Florida, the flood watch covered South Walton, North Walton, Central Walton, Coastal Bay, Inland Bay, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, and Calhoun counties, targeting corridors most prone to repeated storms and training thunderstorms. In southeast Alabama, areas included Coffee, Dale, Henry, Geneva, and Houston, while in southwest Georgia the watch spanned Quitman, Clay, Randolph, Terrell, Dougherty, Lee, Worth, Turner, Early, Miller, Baker, Mitchell, Seminole, and Decatur.
The alerts underscored elevated flash flood potential along creeks, streams, and flood-prone roadways as excessive runoff developed. Authorities advised close monitoring of subsequent forecasts, moving to higher ground in low-lying zones, avoiding flooded roads where water depth and road integrity were uncertain, and calling 911 in emergencies while following local guidance as additional advisories or warnings were issued.
New river warning for Shoal River near Crestview
A separate Flood Warning targeted the Shoal River near Crestview in Okaloosa County through 4:00 a.m. CDT on June 23. Minor flooding was forecast, with the river expected to rise above flood stage tomorrow evening and crest at 8.7 feet early Sunday afternoon before falling below flood stage late Monday evening. A Flood Warning indicates that flooding is imminent or ongoing, particularly in low-lying areas and along riverbanks.
Residents near the Shoal River were advised to be prepared for possible inundation and to avoid driving through flooded roads, especially at night when hazards are harder to recognize. Officials reiterated that most flood-related fatalities occur in vehicles and urged adherence to safety guidance and local instructions as river levels evolve through the weekend.
