Flooded street in Florida due to rain – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by FotoKina
Since days of storms have engulfed Florida this week, the “sunny state” is starting to resemble the “rainy state” more and more, raising concerns about floods.
The state is currently experiencing another week of nonstop rain and storms following a soggy week. And it’s because yet another front has stalled over the region, contributing to the daily showers and thunderstorms, which mostly occur after noon.
Even while the front sweeping the peninsula is the main concern, storms are likely to develop throughout the state as above-average moisture moves into the area.
“It’s a lot of rain and a huge bummer if this was your vacation week,” FOX Weather meteorologist Britta Merwin said.
In many areas of the state, the two-day rainfall totals have exceeded 2 inches, while several places, like Jacksonville, Orlando, and West Palm Beach, have received 4-5 inches of rain since Tuesday.
Jacksonville saw more rain on Tuesday than it typically does in September.
“It’s a lot of rain when you start nailing it down in the record books. That’s when you know that you’ve surpassed what is normal or average for this time of year,” Merwin added.
After their cars were stuck in 3-foot-deep floodwater on Tuesday in Jacksonville, drivers found themselves stranded. Flooding was also experienced in many areas of San Marco when storms dumped up to 3 inches of rain.
“The flood threat…it’s isolated, and the majority of flooding that we experience is really going to be when the strong thunderstorms are moving through–a quick flare up on the roads, and then it quickly disappears,” Merwin said.
Furthermore, the storms won’t stop anytime soon.
Before drier weather returns early next week, thunderstorms are predicted to continue into the weekend. Through Sunday, most parts of Florida will have 2 to 5 inches of rain. It may rain even more in some places around Jacksonville, Orlando, and Everglades City, with some cities receiving up to 7 inches of precipitation.
Many of those heavy rains will fall in a short amount of time as a result of the showers and thunderstorms that arise because of the plentiful tropical moisture present. Through Saturday, there is a chance of flash flooding due to the constant rain and saturated soils.
Concerns of coastal flooding for parts of Florida’s east coast
Along with the flooding brought on by the heavy rains, Thursday’s east coast of North and South Florida might experience minor to moderate coastal flooding due to a mix of king tides and onshore easterly winds.
“We have coastal flood concerns for Miami,” Merwin adds. “Their office (Thursday) morning issuing some Coastal Flood Warnings because of king tides.”
According to the National Weather Service in Miami, a coastal flood advisory has been issued for coastal Miami-Dade, coastal Broward, and coastal Palm Beach until at least Friday AM. Similar warnings are published for the beaches in Jacksonville and northern Florida. Over the next few days, there is still a chance of more coastal flooding along the Atlantic coast during high tide.
The tropical moisture will also maintain a humid atmosphere for the whole week, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
In most of Florida, daily high temperatures are predicted to reach the mid-to-upper 80s, but with dew points in the low to mid-70s, it will feel like the highs are in the 90s.
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Chris began his writing as a hobby while attending Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. Today he and his wife live in the Orlando area with their three children and dog.
