Flooding

It's actually called Vibrio vulnificus, and a range of peer-reviewed academic papers are reporting the infectious and deadly bacteria is prevalent on Southwest Florida beaches due to climate change, warming oceans, and its endemic population. `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Hurricane Milton's surge caused significant flooding in parts of Punta Gorda. Helene did the same thing less than three weeks ago.

A wet weather pattern is expected to bring more rain and a higher risk of flooding into some parts of water logged SW Florida.

Due to a National Weather Service forecast for heavy rain, self-service sandbags are available for residents in Sarasota County and in the City of North Port.

Due to a rain event in the Gulf of Mexico, southwest Florida is under a heavy rainfall advisory until Wednesday. With heavy rainfall comes increased risks of flooding, and unsafe roads.

Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible in Glades, Hendry, and Collier counties from Monday midnight through Wednesday evening.

A federal judge has rejected a request by Florida and other states for a preliminary injunction to block changes to the National Flood Insurance Program that have led to higher premiums for many property owners — though he ruled that a broader legal battle can continue.U.S. District Judge Darrel James Papillion, who is based in New Orleans, issued a 56-page ruling last week that pointed to potential problems if he issued an injunction against a risk-rating system that began taking effect in 2021 and was fully in place in April 2023.

A storm system should arrive to the state on Sunday. Multiple rounds of heavy rain could lead to local flash flooding. Isolated strong wind gusts and brief tornadoes are possible too.

Public lands managed by the South Florida Water Management District in Lee and Collier counties remain so dangerous more than two weeks after the wrath of Category 4 Hurricane Ian that, above or below water, the areas will be closed for the foreseeable future.