TIMELINE: Coastal Storm Threatens Central Florida with Freshwater and Saltwater Floods

ORLANDO, Fla. – A saltwater and freshwater flood threat is developing in Central Florida. Friday has been designated a Weather Alert Day by the News 6 Weather Team.

Saltwater Flood Threat

A coastal flood warning is in effect through at least Sunday morning for Flagler, coastal Volusia and northern Brevard counties.

This type of flooding is created by higher-than-normal tides and not rainfall.

King Tides, combined with strong onshore flow, could create significant coastal flooding in low-lying areas and beach erosion.

Coastal flooding is most likely during times of high tide.

For perspective, the tide is expected to be to be .5′-1′ higher than the highest high tide of this past week.

The northeast breeze and King Tide will also impact the St. Johns River, causing it to rise.

As of Thursday evening, the St. Johns River at Astor is expected to crest at 3.4′, in moderate flood stage.

That forecast could be adjusted.

At 3.5′, canals have overflowed into yards.

Homes on or near Wildhog, Bonnet and Snail roads become inaccessible with several inches of water inside homes along the river and canals.

Docks at Astor Bridge marina and throughout Astor are completely submerged. Bartram Rd and Holiday Circle are inaccessible with yards completely submerged.

Clair Street is inaccessible. Roads flooded in South Moon Fish Camp, docks and yards at condominiums on Juno Trail and water breaches the sea wall at Blair’s Jungle Den.

The St. Johns upstream is expected to remain below flood stage.

Freshwater flood threat

Waves of heavy rain are expected through about noon Friday.

A Flood Watch is in effect for the potential for flooding caused by rainfall for Volusia and Brevard county.

While heavy rain will push inland to about I-4, these areas have picked up significant rain over the past week.

The heaviest rain is expected to fall from Thursday evening through Friday morning.

Heavy rain is expected to become more widespread between Orlando and the coast overnight Thursday and into early Friday.

A few downpours linger into Friday evening closer to the coast.

A general 1-3″ of rain is possible. Isolated amounts of 5″ of rain or more will be possible east of I-4.

While a few heavy downpours could push toward I-75, the bulk of the rain will be on the eastern half.