The Okaloosa County Department of Public Safety announced the following road closures today. The roads will be closed as listed below for maintenance and improvements due to recent storms.
- Woodland Street, Crestview: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 26 and 27, just south of Pinewoods Drive so crews can replace the cross drain. Access will be available up to the closure on this dead end street, so minimal traffic will be impacted.
- Poplar Head Church Road, Holt: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 28, closed at Bone Creek for bridge repair and maintenance. Access will be available up to each side of the bridge, but no through traffic will be permitted. Locations north of the closure will need to use Fire Lane to Bone Creek Road to Lighthouse Church Road instead. Please plan accordingly.
- Eglin Parkway, Shalimar, will be shifted to the west side of the roadway the week of Feb. 25. The construction team will also close the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Eglin Parkway to allow crews to continue replacement of the drainage system.
Access to Sixth Avenue will be restored once the drainage system replacement is completed. It is currently scheduled for the March/April 2013 timeframe.
Access to Eglin Parkway businesses will be maintained at all times, and two lanes of traffic will be open in each direction. Left turns and U-turns will continue to be permitted only at the Shalimar Drive/Cherokee Road and Ninth Avenue/Erwin Fleet Road traffic signals.
The planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Crestview roads closed due to flooding are:
- Old Dorcas at Shoal River
- U.S. Highway 393 at Shoal River, Shoal River Relief Bridge and Pond Creek.
- Lake Ella Road at Pond Creek
- Okaloosa Lane, dirt portion
- Boat ramp and entrance road at Ray Lynn Barnes Park, U.S. Highway 90 East.
Hazardous weather outlook
Persons living in flood prone areas near creeks and low lying areas should be alert for the potential of flash flooding. Residents and business interests located along river basins should monitor the rivers for possible flooding conditions due to heavy rain.
Also there is a slight risk for severe thunderstorms with downburst winds large hail and isolated brief tornadoes this afternoon through this evening. A cold front will move east across the region late this evening with the back clearing edge of the rain and thunderstorms advancing east of the Laverne, Andalusia and Destin areas shortly after midnight.
Widespread heavy rain and periodic strong thunderstorms will continue to impact the region through the late afternoon and evening hours. A flash flood watch is in effect with widespread rainfall amounts from 3 to 5 inches expected to fall through late this evening ahead of an approaching cold frontal system. Localized rainfall amounts to near 7 inches remain possible through tonight.
Blackwater River flood stages
Currently the Blackwater River near Baker is predicted to exceed the flood stage of 11 feet. The river is currently forecast to crest at 13.5 feet on Tuesday, Feb 26. At this level the following impacts could occur:
- 9.5 feet — Kennedy and Peaden Bridges flooded upstream.
- 11 feet — some minor flooding of secondary roads and lowlands from around Baker downstream will occur.
- 12 feet — flooding of secondary roads and lowlands will subside as the river drops below 12 feet.
- 14 feet —flooding of East Park in Baker occurs at 14 feet and West Park becomes flooded at 14.5 feet.
Shoal River flood stages
Currently the Shoal River near Crestview is predicted to exceed the flood stage of 8 feet. The river is currently forecast to crest at 12.9 feet on Tuesday, Feb 26th. At this level the following impacts could occur:
- 8 feet — Some minor flooding of low lying areas will occur.
- 8.5 feet — Lowland flooding in the area will diminish as the river drops below 8 feet.
- 10 feet — Some flooding of trailers north of the Okaloosa Correctional Institute occurs as the river rises above 10 feet
- 10.5 feet — Flooding to trailers north of the Okaloosa Correctional Institute will subside as the river level falls below 10 feet.
- 11 feet — Flooding becomes a threat to the Trevor Court and Rattlesnake Bluff areas as the river rises above 11 feet.
- 14 feet — residential flooding in the Trevor Court area will likely occur as the river rises above 14 feet.
Yellow River flood stages
Currently the Yellow River near Milligan is predicted to exceed the flood stage of 12 feet. The river is predicted to crest at 13.5 feet on Feb. 27. Below are potential impacts if the river exceeds this level and floods:
- 5 feet — Right bank overflows, mainly into swamp and marsh lands.
- 5.9 feet — water over Ellis Road at trellis.
- 9.9 feet — Some minor overflow of low lying areas will occur. Water will enter some yards along Antioch Road in Milligan.
- 11.5 feet — water in yards on Ellis Road.
- 12 feet — Extensive overflow of lowlands will occur and a few rural roads in the area will become flooded.
- 12.5 feet — Flooding of lowlands will gradually subside as the river level drops below 12 feet.
- 13 feet — Threatens homes on Ellis and Antioch Roads.
