Heavy rain floods roads on Jacksonville’s Westside

Flood warning was in effect until 11:30 a.m. for Duval, St. Johns counties

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Rain was steady and heavy overnight into Sunday morning, flooding roads on Jacksonville’s Westside.

Several cars stalled out and areas were blocked off because of flooding in low-lying areas on Sunday, which is a Weather Authority Alert Day through 6:30 p.m.

Of the 24-hour rainfall totals as of 10:30 a.m., according to the National Weather Service Jacksonville, the highest amount of 5 to 7 inches across Northeast Florida was in the area of the Westside. A flood warning was in effect until 11:30 a.m. for Duval and St. Johns counties.

As of 10:40 a.m., North Edgewood Avenue near Broadway Aveway in Jacksonville was flooded. Water was in the roadway and in the parking lot of the nearby plaza. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office blocked off Edgewood Avenue.

“I’m a homeowner. All this water is flooding and damaging my house, my property and everything,” said Jerome Anderson, who lives off Edgewood Avenue.

Anderson said the flooded roads make it difficult to get home.

“It’s very often. There needs to be some kind of system to get this water up and out of here. It’s really bad for the people in the community. We can’t get in and out,” Anderson said. “If you go back around this area, it’s even worse. Some people can’t even come out the door and can’t even get out because of the water.”

North Edgewood Avenue near Broadway Avenue (WJXT)

The Florida Highway Patrol said all lanes at Interstate 10 and Cassat Avenue were closed just before 10 a.m. due to flooding. Police were seen directing traffic and diverting drivers because the water was so deep.

Just after 9:40 a.m., the NWS said a car was stalled at the intersection of Edgewood Avenue and Park Street, which was “totally flooded out.”

The NWS reported about 9:20 a.m. that there was up to 3 feet of water at King Street and McCoy Creek Boulevard. The NWS said the roadway near Lane Avenue and Normandy Boulevard was inundated, and cars were stalled in “river-like” conditions along Edgewood and Cassat avenues.

Around McCoys Creek in Jacksonville, there was excessive rainfall. The NWS said about 9 a.m. that rainfall fall rates had been 3 to 6 inches per hour over the Basin.

Storm drains were seen overflowing in several areas. Officials warned drivers who encountered flooded roadways to turn around.

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McCoys Creek area

Earlier Sunday morning, according to the Sheriff’s Office, an officer responding to a stalled vehicle was injured in a semi crash on Interstate 295 near Gate Parkway. Police said two other people were also hurt.

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department also said a hazmat team responded to a semi that was leaking fuel after a crash on Interstate 95 at Airport Road.

Bad weather also prompted the closure of the COVID-19 testing site at Lot J outside TIAA Bank Field on Sunday.

Areas of heavy showers overnight flowing out of the Gulf of Mexico from Tropical Storm Cristobal continued to track northward through Northeast Florida early Sunday and became more of a mess for areas in southern Georgia through the morning.

ONLINE: Interactive radar | View/share with StormPins

The last round of storms that ended about 10 a.m. dumped another 2 to 4 inches around Jacksonville, leaving Hyde Park area (Normandy Boulevard and I-295) with 7.02 inches of rain -- and more to come.

Even though the worst of the rains are over, any significant rain will add to travel issues and some additional flooding.

Duval County should see another inch before the end of the day.


About the Authors:

After covering the weather from every corner of Florida and doing marine research in the Gulf, Mark Collins settled in Jacksonville to forecast weather for The First Coast.