Florida Storms May Bring 12 Inches of Rain and Weeks of Flooding

A cluster of storms is making its way over Cuba toward coastal Florida, bringing heavy rain and the threat of flash flooding. Over the next seven days, Florida could see up to 12 inches of rain, prompting a tropical storm warning in several areas. Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in more than 50 counties.

As of late Friday morning, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that the storm system was “slowly organizing” over Cuba, located about 420 miles (675 kilometers) from Key West, Florida. The storm is expected to move near or over the west coast of Florida by Saturday night.

Forecasters anticipate that the storm could make landfall sometime late Sunday or early Monday, potentially impacting areas from Apalachicola to Tampa Bay. The NHC has issued a notice warning that the storm could bring heavy rainfall and strong wind gusts to the southwest coast of the Florida peninsula, spanning from East Cape Sable to Bonita Beach.

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“This rainfall could result in areas of flash and urban flooding, with isolated river flooding possible,” the NHC stated. Additionally, potential storm surges of one to three feet could affect regions including Aripeka, Card Sound Bridge, Tampa Bay, and Charlotte Harbor. Parts of the southern and western coasts of Florida, as well as sections of the Florida Keys, are under a tropical storm watch, indicating that storm conditions could impact these areas within the next two days.

Governor DeSantis' emergency order includes Orange County, home to more than 1.4 million people, as well as popular tourist destinations such as Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, DeSantis warned that the incoming rainfall could cause “significant river flooding that may last for several weeks,” noting that water tables in some areas are already saturated.

He also cautioned that the storm could damage critical infrastructure, including major interstates, roadways, bridges, airports, schools, hospitals, and power grids, leading to widespread power outages. The governor emphasized the potential severity of the situation and urged residents to take necessary precautions.

This storm arrives during what is expected to be a busy hurricane season, stretching from June through November in the United States. Earlier this year, the US weather agency NOAA predicted that the North Atlantic could experience as many as seven major hurricanes of Category three strength or higher, more than double the usual number.

So far this season, there have been three named storms—Alberto, Beryl, and Chris—affecting Mexico, parts of the Caribbean, and Texas. Hurricane Alberto resulted in at least four fatalities, while Hurricane Beryl claimed more than 60 lives in July, including 36 in the Houston, Texas area, according to officials.