JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Thursday was soggy, with rainfall totals ranging in average of 1 to 1½ inches. Rainfall totals Wednesday ranged from ¾ to 1 inch. A trained storm spotter in Lake Asbury reported a storm rainfall total of 3.5 inches as of 11 Thursday.
Light, nearly continuous showers with scattered moderate to heavy rain peppered in, pushing through our area Thursday. An isolated thunderstorm can't be ruled out, but is not expected.
The rain was most predominant along and to the north of Interstate 10 during the morning hours, spreading south during the day. Area-wide, rain was a messy factor during the lunch hour. Approaching the evening hours, the showers will become less continuous and more passing, signaling the beginning of a drying out phase.
McCoys Creek on the Westside is no stranger to flooding, and residents saw more of the same Thursday.
Resident Freddie Lee Demmons said every time it rains, he knows he is going to have to take an alternate route. He said he can't even count the number of times that McCoy Creek Boulevard has been impassable.
The flooding has been so bad before that Demmons couldn't get out of his neighborhood and missed two days of work. He said he had to help a woman whose car was stranded in the high waters.
"Bout a couple years ago I had to take a lady out of her car on McCoy Creek and King (street)," Demmons said. "She panicked me and a couple of guys snatched her out and saved her."
John Brown said he's also used to the frequent rise of McCoys Creek but said he worries about elderly people who live in the area.
"You've got old people out here. They need to have elevation for old people because they have wheelchairs and they have to go catch the bus," Brown said.
Demmons and Brown said there have been times when the water rises so high it covers the benches at the bus stop.
Mechanic Aaron Nelson said drivers should avoid driving through water because doing so could lead to potential problems.
"We've actually had before the engine's been ruined, people don't realize how deep the water is, and it gets into the computers and the engine. So it's a big deal," Nelson said.
Flooding isn't the only issue in this weather pattern.
During the overnight hours, wind speeds will increase exponentially, with wind gusts anticipated around 30 mph, most likely prompting a Lake Wind Advisory. The winds usher in a strong cold front, bringing much colder, drier air into our forecast area.
Anticipate an inland freeze warning early Friday morning, with two to four hours of at- and below-temperatures ranging from 29-31 degrees. These temperatures require attention and care to tropical, tender, and freshly planted plants only, and care for outdoor pets. Pipes freezing is not a concern.
Coastal and southern counties will only brush freezing temperatures at the coldest points -- not experiencing a freeze.