Tropical Storm Lee began as a tropical wave in the Caribbean Sea during the last week of August. By the evening of Thursday, 1 September 2011, the tropical wave further developed into Tropical Depression 13. By 1 PM the following Friday afternoon, Tropical Depression Lee had formed. Lee slowly moved northward towards the south central Louisiana coastline by Saturday afternoon 3 September, while continuing to produce extremely heavy rainfall over portions of southern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama and the northwest Florida Panhandle.
The outer rain-bands of Lee produced near-continuous heavy rainfall over portions of southern Alabama, southeastern Mississippi and the northwestern Florida Panhandle by early Saturday morning and that endured through early Sunday before dry air aloft wrapped into Lee���s western side. The center of Lee moved over land around sunrise Sunday, 4 September. However, it would be a while before Lee would weaken to a depression because it remained nearly stationary while the southern half of the circulation was over water where it could continue to derive additional energy from the warm ocean. The next day, Lee was eventually picked up by an upper air trough, turned northeastward and resumed a faster forward speed late in the day on Sunday, 4 September as it began its welcome exit to the northeast late Sunday through late Monday.
Lee���s impacts were far reaching across our region. Although the continuous rains became somewhat intermittent as dry air wrapped into Lee from the west, this created a situation from Sunday afternoon through midday Monday whereby individual thunderstorms became more intense due to increasing levels of atmospheric instability. Stronger thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes affected the North Central Gulf Coast Region, as they formed within the detached outer spiral rain-bands well to the east of Lee���s center on Sunday and finally to the southeast on Monday. The highest total storm tide levels (astronomical plus surge effects) ranged from approximately 3.5 to just barely over 5 feet.
While Lee was in the process of being picked up by a fast moving upper air trough, a series of squall lines that produced moderately widespread thunderstorm wind damage along and ahead of the surface cold front, as well as more isolated tornadoes, affected the area through late Monday afternoon. In all, some 10 to 15 inches of rain fell along coastal sections of Alabama and northwest Florida. Additionally, several weak tornadoes occurred producing modest structural and tree damage. There was also moderate beach erosion and the rip currents endured over a multi-day period. Inland flooding was exacerbated along the immediate coastal zone by higher tide levels due to Lee���s surge effects which created poor to no drainage of area coastal rivers, bays and sounds on during astronomical high tide cycles from 3-5 September (late night hours each day).

Tornado in ESCAMBIA, FLORIDA
From 04-SEP-11 02:10:00 to 04-SEP-11 02:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: GULF BEACH
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado moved off the Gulf of Mexico in Perdido Key, then continued north northwest causing more pronounced damage at Inerarity Point.  The tornado continued across Perdido Bay into Baldwin County Alabama near Lillian.
the most extensive damage was at Inerarity Point to a residence on Dune Avenue.  The home lost the north half of its roof, resulting in partial collapse of the walls.  the roof appeared to be straight nailed with no hurricane straps.  Other homes suffered minor roof damage.  At approximately one mile north northwest of Dune Avenue on Garcon Boulevard, an aluminum carport with steel poles was destroyed.

Thunderstorm Wind in OKALOOSA, FLORIDA
From 04-SEP-11 03:52:00 to 04-SEP-11 03:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARY ESTHER
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Thunderstorm Wind in ESCAMBIA, FLORIDA
From 05-SEP-11 10:47:00 to 05-SEP-11 10:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: (PNS)PENSACOLA REGIO
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Thunderstorm Wind in OKALOOSA, FLORIDA
From 05-SEP-11 10:45:00 to 05-SEP-11 10:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: BAKER
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Winds estimated at 60 mph downed a tree on a house on Wadsworth Blvd.

Flash Flood in OKALOOSA, FLORIDA
From 05-SEP-11 11:15:00 to 05-SEP-11 13:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRESTVIEW
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Heavy rain caused approximately 2 to 3 feet of water to cover roadways.

Thunderstorm Wind in OKALOOSA, FLORIDA
From 05-SEP-11 10:31:00 to 05-SEP-11 12:31:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARY ESTHER
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Winds estimated at 60 mph downed numerous small with a few large tree limbs on Eglin Air Force Base near the Burger King.

Thunderstorm Wind in ESCAMBIA, FLORIDA
From 05-SEP-11 12:01:00 to 05-SEP-11 12:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: ENSLEY
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in OKALOOSA, FLORIDA
From 05-SEP-11 10:31:00 to 05-SEP-11 10:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARY ESTHER
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Thunderstorm Wind in ESCAMBIA, FLORIDA
From 05-SEP-11 11:45:00 to 05-SEP-11 11:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: PENSACOLA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Winds estimated at 60 mph downed several large tree limbs across the county.

Thunderstorm Wind in OKALOOSA, FLORIDA
From 05-SEP-11 11:45:00 to 05-SEP-11 11:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: NICEVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Winds estimated at 60 mph downed a large oak tree on a home causing significant damage to the house.

Thunderstorm Wind in OKALOOSA, FLORIDA
From 05-SEP-11 14:24:00 to 05-SEP-11 14:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRESTVIEW
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Tornado in OKALOOSA, FLORIDA
From 04-SEP-11 04:15:00 to 04-SEP-11 04:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRESTVIEW
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Tornado touched down in a subdivision off John King Road just south of Interstate 10.  At the start of the tornado path damage was observed to trees and property fences, with the windshield of an automobile knocked out by a tree limb.  The tornado moved north of Interstate 10 crossing another subdivision producing damage to several fences and the roofing of a few residences.