Hurricane Milton added easily over a foot of water to many of the lakes and rivers Floridians are very familiar with.
You hear things like “flood stage” and “river flood warning,” but what does that really mean? How does it pertain to you?
Terms, categories when it comes to flooding
There are several different terms and categories the Water Prediction Center uses when classifying flooding of different lakes and rivers. The ones you really need to know are: action stage, minor flood stage, moderate flood stage, and major flood stage.
The former are the actionable notifications that you really need to look out for, especially during significant weather events like a hurricane.
The “stage” itself is a level measured by some device in a body of water that must reach a predetermined level to where it becomes a threat or danger to lives, property or travel.
In the “action stage,” as the name implies, the water is approaching a level to which it could become an issue if it were to get any higher. So you begin to take flood prevention action to avoid any damage or worse if the water does exceed this threshold.
The “minor flood stage” is above the action stage and flooding has just begun. Few, if any, buildings are inundated, which means water enters the property and could cause damage. Roads can also be partially or fully submerged depending on the area under the minor flood stage.
A “moderate flood stage” is a step further than the minor. At this point, flooding is certainly ongoing, and the risk of severe inundation is much greater. Buildings, homes and other properties will likely be inundated or entirely flooded by the rising waters. Roads are likely to be closed and cut off entirely. Some evacuation may be necessary depending on the population density of your particular local area.
A “major flood stage” compounds on what was described above. Here, you will be required to evacuate or simply leave the area to avoid injury or loss of life. Catastrophic damage is expected to occur and if the environment is low enough geographically, it could end up completely underwater before the end of this flood stage. The flooding seen in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 is a memorable and sobering example of a major, if not record, flood stage.
[RELATED: Here’s why the worst flooding occurs well after the storm for larger rivers]
Breakdown of rivers, lakes levels in Central Florida
There are still four rivers and creeks still at the major flood stage in Central Florida.
The St. Johns River, for example, is currently at a staggering 4.6 feet above its flood threshold. At its highest, it reached 4.81 feet during Hurricane Milton. The record was broken in this case, which came in at the current 4.7 feet observed as you are reading this article.
Currently we are monitoring seven other large bodies of water around our viewing area that have battled with tremendous flooding not only thanks to Milton but precursor showers and storms having worked through before the hurricane made landfall.
- Withlacoochee River sits at the major flood stage still with waters continuing to rise above 13 feet.
- Lake Harney is also in the major flood stage, measuring in this afternoon at 10.02 feet.
- Lake Monroe is forecast to exceed moderate and major flood stages, currently creeping closer to the upper tier of its minor flood stage at 6.78 feet.
- Holly Hill is not currently in a flood stage.
- Astor, off the St. Johns River, is at 4.6 feet which is well within its major flood stage. Forecasts indicate it is going to continue receding over the next 3-5 days.
- The St. Johns River gauge in DeBary is also still capped at its major flood stage. The current height of the river in this location is 5.3 feet, well within its major flood stage but is also forecast to recede over the next few days.
- Lastly, Little Wekiva of Altamonte Springs is on its way down. On Oct. 12, Little Wekiva measured within its major flood stage but has since tapered some, allowing it to cross from a moderate to minor flood stage. More steady decreasing in river height is forecast between now and Oct. 16.
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