Florida faces flood threat as relentless rain targets state through the end of the week
According to the FOX Forecast Center, some parts of Florida could see upwards of 5 inches of rain by Thursday.
Florida flood threat grows as heavy rain lingers for days
Florida is bracing for several more days of heavy rain, with some areas potentially seeing more than 5 inches by Thursday. A Level 1/4 flash flood threat remains in place across parts of the Florida Panhandle and from North Florida into Central Florida, while a coastal low could bring coastal flooding, beach erosion and life-threatening rip currents.
THE TAKEAWAY
- Several inches of rainfall are expected across Florida through the end of the week.
- Some parts of Florida could see upwards of 5 inches of rain by Thursday.
- A Level 1 out of 4 flash flood threat remains in place across parts of the Florida Panhandle and from North Florida into Central Florida.
The stretch of wet weather in Florida isn’t letting up anytime soon, with several inches of rainfall expected across the state through the end of the week.
MILLIONS ACROSS SOUTHEAST FACE DAYS OF HEAVY RAIN, INCREASED FLOOD THREAT IN WET START TO OCTOBER
According to the FOX Forecast Center, some parts of Florida could see upwards of 5 inches of rain by Thursday.
Widespread flooding in Key West, Florida. (Key West Police Department/Facebook / FOX Weather)
A Level 1 out of 4 flash flood threat remains in place Tuesday and Wednesday across parts of the Florida Panhandle and from North Florida into Central Florida.
Flood Watches are in place along a roughly 400-mile stretch from Mobile, Alabama, to Jacksonville, Florida, as repeated rounds of rainfall show no indications of slowing down.
Some cities, including Jacksonville, could easily eclipse their monthly October rainfall averages in just one week.
The prolonged wet weather comes as a slow-moving cold front that triggered flooding across parts of the Southwest and Southern Plains moved to the Southeast, fueling nasty weather since Monday.
The cold front stalled as it tapped into tropical moisture originating from Central America, which became trapped between the boundary and strong high pressure to the north. This setup has locked in an extended period of rainfall across Florida.
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The heaviest rainfall is expected to continue through late week, with the highest totals concentrating near the stationary front across the Panhandle and North Florida.
On Tuesday, an area of low pressure is expected to develop just off the northeastern Florida coast.
The coastal low will create a squeeze play with high pressure to the north, strengthening winds along the Southeast shoreline and increasing the risk of coastal flooding, beach erosion, life-threatening rip currents, heavy rain and storms.
Wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph are expected along the immediate coastline from South Carolina through Georgia and into northern Florida.
The FOX Forecast Center said cities such as Charleston, Savannah and Jacksonville will experience the brunt of the coastal storm.
However, impacts are expected to be brief, as the system begins to weaken and move out to sea by Thursday.
Along with the gusty winds, coastal flooding will be a major concern.
The St. Johns River in northern Florida is likely to overflow, as the shallow, tidally influenced river is highly susceptible to changes in tidal levels.
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