Pools, Hurricane Michael & When to Build in Panama City

Rain and heat by month

Month	Rain (in)	Avg high (°F)
January	4.79	64
February	4.95	67
March	5.03	73
April	4.09	79
May	3.31	85
June	5.82	89
July	7.41	91
August	7.44	91
September	6.98	89
October	3.45	82
November	3.70	73
December	4.30	67

NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Panama City 5N (NCEI). About 61 in of rain a year.

May is the driest month, then October and November. July to September is both the wettest stretch and the heart of hurricane season, which ends November 30.

Hurricane Michael, October 10, 2018

Michael came ashore near Tyndall Air Force Base, southeast of Panama City, as a Category 5 with a 919 mb central pressure, among the lowest on record for a US landfall. The Tyndall station gusted to 139 mph before it stopped reporting; a storm chaser read 923 mb in the eye over Callaway. Mexico Beach saw as much as 14 ft of surge, Panama City about 4–6 ft, and Lynn Haven measured 11.62 in of rain. More than 45,000 structures were damaged in Bay County and more than 1,500 destroyed (National Hurricane Center; NWS Tallahassee).

Getting the pool ready for a storm

Keep the water in. On saturated sand, a low pool is more likely to shift.
Move chairs, umbrellas and toys indoors; the pool is not storage.
Run the pump until power drops, and switch breakers off if flooding is likely.
Afterward, clear debris before restarting, and let the yard drain before adjusting the level (UF/IFAS).

Tyndall AFB families

Tyndall's family housing is privatized, so a pool means buying off base in Parker, Callaway, Lynn Haven or Panama City. The Housing Management Office is at 445 Suwannee Rd, Bldg 662, 850-283-2737 (Military OneSource). If orders might move you within a few years, a pool is a resale and rental decision as much as a lifestyle one: a cage and a simple, durable finish usually appeal to the next buyer.

Common questions

Should I empty the pool before a hurricane?

No. UF/IFAS advises leaving the water in, moving loose furniture indoors (not into the pool) and running the pump until the power goes (UF/IFAS). An emptied pool on wet ground can shift or lift.

When should I sign with a builder?

Early fall works well. In Panama City, May and then October and November are the driest months, and July through September the wettest (NOAA normals). Hurricane season runs to November 30, so a contract signed in the fall can be dug in late fall or winter and swimming by spring.

Sources & further reading

Editorial note: General planning information, not engineering or legal advice. Prices are estimates; confirm current rules with your local officials and a qualified pro.