PANAMA CITY BEACH — Two swimmers were missing in separate incidents late Saturday after entering the Gulf on a day that the National Weather Service warned of high risk of dangerous rip currents.
When dusk arrived, a helicopter gave up the search due to darkness, but a search boat could be seen patrolling the water, shining its search light over the waves. There was no sign of the missing swimmers, and it was unknown whether they managed to get out of the water in a different location.
One of the swimmers was missing from the area west of the county pier, while the second was behind Pineapple Willy’s on Front Beach Road. Their identities were not released.
Earlier Saturday, the weather service, working with beach officials, upgraded the risk of rip currents to high along the Panhandle coast, and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office posted double-red flags, closing the beach to swimmers.
Meanwhile, meteorologists said Saturday flash flooding is a lingering risk as the area struggles to dry out after extremely heavy rainfall in early July.
Earlier Saturday, a flash flood warning was issued for the Panama City area by the NWS.
Almost daily rain showers have prevented water levels from returning to seasonal norms, according to NWS meteorologist Mark Wool.
“It’s been raining nearly every day,” Wool said, “and when that happens we keep reducing the amount of water the ground can hold before it runs off.”
Scattered showers and thunderstorms continued in the Panama City area Saturday afternoon, but the flash flood warning was canceled during the afternoon. But poor conditions and strong winds forced officials with Aquapalooza to cancel the annual boating event Saturday at Shell Island. Aquapalooza will be rescheduled.
Wool said that weather patterns in the area have been “unpredictable” lately, and noted that flash flood warnings are issued as a precaution.
It would take three inches of rainfall in about six hours for flooding occur, he said. In late summer, when more tropical weather patterns are likely to develop, the area could be especially at risk.
“We remain under the gun because we haven’t had any lengthy period to dry off,” Wool said. “And we’re really wondering if we get under a tropical cycle in the summer — where it’s raining nearly every day — we could be in trouble.”
Wool estimated at least one week of dry conditions is needed to reduce the risk of flooding.
But it may not be this week. A high chance of showers and thunderstorms is forecast through Thursday, according to NWS.
