Rains Put Part Of Astor Underwater

    A drenching, all-day rain soaked much of North Lake County and beyond on Friday, with upwards of three inches or more of precipitation filling retention areas and pushing the St. Johns River into a ‘moderate’ flood stage. When the rain finally tapered off on Saturday afternoon, soggy conditions could be found throughout the area.
    Astor, which bears the brunt of high rainfall events due to its low-lying status next to the St. Johns River, received reports of as much as 3.25 inches of rain, with the St. Johns River Utility reporting 2.75 inches at its wastewater plant in Astor Park. Umatilla’s automated weather station at the Umatilla Municipal Airport reported just under 2.5 inches for the day.
    Roadside flooding was not an issue, as the rain came in a steady, but not too heavy, fashion. Water was on the road was a rare condition.
    However, the cumulative rain pushed the river in Astor to over 3.0 feet, a full foot above what is considered flood stage by the National Weather Service.
    The river was expected to crest at 3.07 feet on Monday, before beginning a steady decline that could see it recede to 2.5 feet, considered a ‘minor’ level of flooding. The river has been in and out of flood stage since summer.
    As might be expected, the drenching, which covered the entire state, left soil in a very moist condition. The Florida Forest Services' KBDI (Keetch Byram Drought Index) on Monday showed the majority of the state in the index's lowest, or most moist range, and the entire state, save Gulf County in the Panhandle, in the range's lowest two categories. Gulf was listed in the 200-299 range, still in the lowest quartile.