The National Weather Service issued a new flash flood warning for southeastern Okeechobee County Sunday afternoon, lasting until 4:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, or 1:15 p.m. Pacific. The warning describes life-threatening flooding already occurring.
The 2:10 p.m. Eastern bulletin cites local law enforcement reports of heavy rain. It reports 4 to 7 inches of rain, with another 2 to 3 inches possible in the warned area.
Earlier Sunday, the weather service said portions of State Road 70 and U.S. 441 in and around Okeechobee were impassable and water was entering structures, citing local law enforcement. That report appeared in its 12:58 p.m. Eastern bulletin.
The warning includes Okeechobee, Treasure Island, Taylor Creek, Four Seasons Estates, Okeechobee Airport, Whispering Pines and Basswood Estates. Drivers should turn around at flooded roads and avoid driving through floodwater, the weather service says.
A separate flood advisory lasts until 5:15 p.m. Eastern Sunday for southeastern Indian River, northwestern Martin, southeastern Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties. It concerns flooding in low-lying places and areas with poor drainage, rather than the flash flood warning's life-threatening conditions.
WPBF forecast heavy rain across South Florida through Monday. A separate NWS flood watch for Okeechobee County continues through 3 p.m. Eastern Monday, November 2. The watch concerns further possible flooding; Sunday's flash flood warning describes flooding already occurring.
The new warning follows an earlier warning that had been due to expire at 2:15 p.m. Eastern Sunday. Its later expiration time does not establish when flooded roads will reopen.
