Persistent rain has hit the Sunshine State, threatening weeks of flooding

takeaway

• A coastal storm has developed just off the northeast Florida coast, causing the threat of coastal flooding and high surf for the First Coast.
• A Level 1 through 4 flash flood threat remains in place through Thursday for parts of the Florida Panhandle and from North Florida to Central Florida.
• Flood warnings and flood watches remain in place for Florida’s north coast through Wednesday.

The wet weather in Florida shows no signs of slowing down, with several inches of rain expected across the state by the end of the week.

Millions of people across the Southeast are facing heavy rain, increasing the risk of flooding in wet areas in early October

Parts of Florida could see an additional 2 to 5 inches of rain by Thursday, according to the Fox Forecast Center. Level 1 out of 4 flash flood risk still covers much of the state as of Thursday.

Over the past week, rain has fallen across the Panhandle from Gainesville to Jacksonville, from 4 to 6 inches to a foot.

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Some cities, including Jacksonville, can easily exceed their monthly October precipitation averages in just one week.

The prolonged wet weather comes in the form of a slow-moving cold front, which has caused flooding in parts of the southwest and southern plains. south-eastThe weather has been bad since Monday.

The front stalled and caused extended periods of rainfall across Florida.

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The heaviest rainfall is expected to continue through the end of the week, with the heaviest rainfall concentrated near the stationary front over the Panhandle and northern Florida.

By Wednesday, the front is expected to settle over Central Florida, with the storm more intensely targeting the I-4 corridor, especially toward the Gulf Coast.

Rainfall of 1-3 inches is expected, with localized totals up to 6 inches possible.

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Despite saturated conditions, Florida’s flat terrain and sandy soils should limit the risk of flash flooding primarily to urban and poorly drained areas.

The stalled front is expected to move north by Thursday, bringing another day of heavy rain.

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Along with slow-moving downpours and light rain, storms can be almost constant in the region, causing flash flooding in isolated locations.

This should be the last day of this pattern before Tropical Depression Nine begins to move northeast across the Gulf.

Meanwhile, a coastal hurricane has developed just off the northeastern Florida coast.

This coastal low will create a squeeze play with high pressure to the north, causing winds to strengthen along the southeast coastline and increasing the risk of coastal flooding, beach erosion, life-threatening rip currents, heavy rainfall and hurricanes.

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Wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph are expected along the immediate coastline from South Carolina through Georgia and into northern Florida.

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Fox Forecast Center said cities like Charleston, Savannah and Jacksonville would bear the brunt of the coastal storm.

However, the impact is expected to be brief, as the system will begin to weaken and move out into the sea by Thursday.

Along with high winds, coastal flooding will be a major concern.

The St. Johns River in northern Florida is likely to overflow, as the shallow, tide-affected river is highly sensitive to changes in tide levels.

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Despite days of heavy rain, this rain is beneficial as most of the state is in moderate drought.

Stay with Fox Weather for the latest updates.