Tropical Deluge: Flooding Rain Threatens Florida, Southeast

Brian Donegan
Published: August 7, 2016
A very wet weather pattern is in store for parts of Florida and the rest of the Southeast throughout the week ahead. The multiple days of rain that we expect could be heavy at times, resulting in flash flooding and even river flooding in some areas.
Florida's Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) is urging residents and businesses from Tampa to Pensacola to prepare for the heavy rain, The Associated Press reported.
FDEM director Bryan W. Koon told The Associated Press that the National Weather Service "expects this to be a slow moving heavy rain event which could last through Thursday," affecting portions of the Big Bend and Panhandle.
Flood watches have been issued for the Florida Nature Coast and Big Bend into Tuesday. Parts of western North Carolina, upstate South Carolina, and far northeast Georgia are under flash flood watches into Sunday night.

Current Flood Watches and Warnings

An area of low pressure in the upper atmosphere, a stalling surface front, and abundant tropical moisture are the ingredients for this multi-day flood threat. In addition, a weak area of surface low pressure near the coast of Florida's Big Bend will keep a firehose of moisture pointed at northern Florida where rainfall totals may top 12 inches.
(MORE: Where Flooding Has Been Most Frequent in the U.S.)

Radar, Watches, and Warnings

Rainfall Forecast and Impacts

A broad swath of 3 to 5-inch rain amounts is expected across the northern and eastern Gulf Coast the next several days. Farther inland across the Southeast, several inches of rain may also fall in some areas.
The most widespread heavy rain threat appears to set up from the Florida Nature Coast and Suwannee River Valley to the Florida Panhandle where widespread 5 to even 8-inch-plus rain totals are most probable through the week ahead.
Localized amounts of 8 to 12 inches of rainfall are possible along the Florida Big Bend and Nature Coast through this week.
Much heavier amounts in short periods of time will occur where any slow-moving or stationary downpours set up, quickly triggering dangerous local flash flooding.

Southeast Rainfall Outlook

Some rivers in central and southwest Florida are expected to approach minor flood stage, and other rivers in the Florida Big Bend will likely rise due to extensive rainfall.
(MORE: View National Interactive Radar Map | Difference Between a Watch and a Warning)
As always, you should never attempt to drive through floodwaters, period.
It's easy to misjudge the depth of floodwater, particularly at night. Sometimes the bridge or road masked by flood water may have been undermined or completely washed out.
According to FEMA:
- 6 inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control and potential stalling.
- 1 foot of water will float many vehicles.
- 2 feet of rushing water will carry away most vehicles, including SUVs and pickups.
In addition, if you live in a home that is located in a flood-prone area, be sure to stay alert of any potential rising floodwaters.
Where the rain isn't excessive, it will be beneficial since some cities in Florida are coming off their driest July on record. Another piece of good news is that the extra cloud cover will keep temperatures down, as many parts of the South just experienced a record-hot July.
(MORE: July's Extreme Heat Breaks Records Across South)

Flooding Reports

Here is the rain that has already fallen:

Rainfall accumulation over the last three days.

This area of low pressure has comparatively humble beginnings:
Wednesday, over 7 inches of rain triggered severe flooding in Statesville, North Carolina, flooding the grounds at Statesville High School with up to waist-deep water and requiring 18 water rescues, according to WSOC TV.

Road flooding was reported in the Pensacola, Florida, metro area after heavy rain Thursday morning.
Significant flooding and debris flows washed out a bridge and forced road closures around Bryson City, North Carolina, Thursday night.
MORE: West Virginia Flooding in June