Flood Watch Issued as Heavy Rain Hits Florida’s East Coast

MIAMI, Florida — A Flood Watch is currently in effect for east-central Florida as multiple rounds of rain are expected from Saturday through Monday. The watch covers the areas from Jupiter Island to Daytona Beach, with this region anticipating widespread rain accumulation of 1 to 3 inches, and locally up to 5 to 6 inches.

Coastal flooding alerts are also active along the east coast, extending into parts of coastal Georgia. Officials are warning that 1 to 2 feet of inundation could occur during high tide due to funneled offshore winds affected by a stalled front and a high-pressure system over the Northeast.

The National Weather Service has issued a Level 1 out of 4 flood threat for much of Florida’s Atlantic coast, which could peak on Monday. Meteorologists indicate that persistent tropical moisture is contributing to this flood risk, with rain intensifying through the weekend.

“Regardless if anything develops in the atmosphere, the residual boundary will instigate showers and storms,” said FOX Weather Meteorologist. “The moisture from the east is substantial and has a long reach into Florida.”

An isolated flood threat, rated at Level 1, will persist across much of the east coast of Florida through Monday.

Additionally, rain and thunderstorms are forecasted for the Gulf Coast, with areas like New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama, potentially experiencing flooding downpours. The stalled front is expected to compound the rain, increasing the flood threat along Florida’s coast during high tides.

In the Atlantic, a tropical wave is emerging off the coast of Africa and has a moderate 50% chance of developing into a tropical disturbance next week. Dry air and wind shear could hinder its development in the coming days.

After experiencing some drier conditions in certain parts of Florida, the east coast is seeing extremely wet conditions while the Gulf Coast remains dry. Some areas in Florida had the driest September on record, while other regions experienced significant rainfall.

The National Hurricane Center has noted that the Atlantic hurricane season will officially end on November 30, highlighting that development chances for any ongoing systems should be monitored closely.

Currently, the primary concern is the ongoing Flood Watch and flash flood risk across Florida as heavy rain continues.