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Heavy Rains Would Be Bad News For Astor

    Storm tracks that showed Hurricane Ian moving inward across north Central Florida on Tuesday were bad news for residents along the St. Johns River.  While the storm's final impact on the area was unknown at press deadline on Tuesday, any movement that put the storm further away from the river was welcome, and tracks that showed it coming across the state were most unwelcome.
    The St. Johns River in Astor has remained at flood stage in the past week, with an expected decline from 2.5 feet in water level not materializing, and in fact, the river was expected to rise to 2.8 feet by Wednesday of this week and remain at that level into the weekend.  While that level would keep the river in the 'minor' range of flooding, it was very near the 'moderate' range at 3.0 feet. A large impact from Hurricane Ian would result in major flooding in the days following storm as water moves north.
    Higher flood levels are more likely to be a reality the closer the storm came to central Florida.  The St. Johns River and its tributaries would be more impacted by the storm's 'strong' easterly side being more over central Florida, where the river receives much of its water.  Massive rainfall during Hurricane Irma in 2017 throughout eastern central Florida resulted in near-record flooding in Astor, at 4.6 feet above flood stage.