Climateupdated 1h ago3 min read
Archive photo · 4 February 2024National Weather Service Calls Space Coast’s 1,000-Year Rain Event; Joshua Bennett Dies
4 Western Mainstream2 Local Western2 OtherPhoto: Pokemonprime, CC BY 4.0 · Cropped for layout
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Space Coast received up to 28 inches of rain in 36 hours. The deluge triggered rescues, flooded neighborhoods, and closed schools and polling locations.
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Brevard’s 1-in-1,000 Rain
The National Weather Service called the “extraordinary, intense period of rain” that drenched the Space Coast over a 24-hour period “a one in a 1,000-year event.”
National Weather Service officials reported that North Grant-Valkaria saw 23.69 inches of rain, and east Malabar followed with 23.44 inches.
Palm Bay recorded 19.75 inches of rain, and Melbourne Beach measured 13.88 inches as the deluge hit Brevard County Sunday, Nov. 1, through Monday, Nov. 2.
Assistant Chief John Ringleb said Palm Bay Fire Rescue crews had “high water rescues since 5 a.m.” and he warned that even when water appears to be receding, flooded roadways can still be unsafe.
Palm Bay police confirmed the death of Joshua Bennett, 34, who was located in his truck in a flooded-out part of southeast Palm Bay after going missing during the rains.
Weather Pattern and Forecast
Meteorologist William Ulrich said the amount of rainfall exceeded the threshold for a 1-in 1,000-year rainfall event, and he explained the designation means there is a 0.1% chance of rainfall of that magnitude happening in any given year.
AccuWeather meteorologist Dave Simmers described the setup as “definitely a more unusual set up,” and he said the Palm Bay and Melbourne area had “upwards of 17 inches of rain in 24 hours.”
The South Florida Water Management District reported that two-day rainfall rates showed a maximum of nearly 19 inches falling in isolated areas including parts of Palm Beach Gardens.
A forecast for the Treasure and Space coasts expected rain chances to decrease on Tuesday, Nov. 3, but the forecast still included a flood warning that transitioned to a flood watch at 10 a.m.
The National Weather Service said a forecast for the east Central Florida region indicated up to an additional inch of rain was likely on Nov. 3, with a 5% - 10% chance of up to 2.5 inches of rain.
Lake Okeechobee and Polling
Water managers in the Treasure Coast region said Super El Niño weather conditions through the dry season could create wetter and more volatile weather for south Florida, which could lead to “substantial” Lake Okeechobee discharges to the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon.
SFWMD lead meteorologist Todd Kimberlain said rainfall was forecast to increase from 8 inches in November to 31 inches by March, and the Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District watched how rainfall raised levels in Lake O and the St. Lucie Canal.
Col. Brandon Bowman said Army Corps modeling for the dry season ranged from 14.4 feet to a “worst-case scenario” of 18.7 feet, which would require “substantial releases.”
USA TODAY reported that counties relocated polling locations, and Brevard County elections officials posted on Facebook: “Due to these unprecedented circumstances, these changes are for the safety and security of our election workers and the voters of Brevard.”
USA TODAY also reported that Brightline train service between West Palm Beach and Orlando was suspended indefinitely Monday because of “high water conditions impacting the rail corridor in Brevard County,” linking the rainfall to disruptions beyond the flooded streets.