Eastern Florida has been battered by what forecasters describe as a once-in-a-millennium rainfall event, with up to two feet of rain falling in just 36 hours and triggering catastrophic flash flooding across the state’s Space Coast and Treasure Coast.
The heaviest rain fell in southern Brevard County, where 24.1 inches was recorded at Malabar between Sunday morning and Monday evening, according to the National Weather Service. Nearby Palm Bay received 20.6 inches and Melbourne Beach 19.8 inches over the same period, while West Palm Beach recorded 22.2 inches.
In Melbourne, 11.03 inches of rain by 5 p.m. on Monday alone broke the station’s all-time daily rainfall record. For some locations, the Weather Service said the rainfall exceeded the threshold for a one-in-1,000-year event — meaning there is a 0.1 per cent chance of that much rain falling in any given year, not that it can only happen once in a millennium.
The flooding prompted a flash flood emergency for West Melbourne, Palm Bay and Grant-Valkaria on Monday, with the Weather Service warning of an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Sheriff’s deputies and firefighters carried out rescues and evacuations, while state wildlife officials assisted by airboat in flooded areas.
Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in seven counties: Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie. Schools closed on Monday and again on Tuesday across parts of central Florida, and road closures remained in place in several counties.
The deluge has also disrupted Election Day itself. As Floridians vote for a new governor, at least seven counties have relocated polling places, according to the Florida Division of Elections. Brevard County moved at least five precincts, citing the safety of election workers and voters, while St. Lucie County relocated seven polling locations. Officials warned further changes were possible.
Two weather systems combined to funnel the moisture over the region: a high-pressure system over the eastern United States driving a strong onshore flow, and a low off Florida’s west coast, the Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center said. That persistent onshore flow was expected to maintain the threat of heavy rainfall for at least another day over south-east Florida, with up to a further inch likely on Tuesday and a small chance of 2.5 inches in places.
As the water begins to drain, river levels are rising. The Weather Service projects the St. Johns River near Cocoa could approach major flood level and come within a foot of its all-time record when it crests later in the week, possibly by 5 November.
Forecasters say the event cannot yet be attributed to the strengthening El Nino, despite the warming Pacific pattern often bringing wetter winters to central Florida. The Weather Service expects conditions to clear later in the week, but warned that saturated ground means even modest further rain could worsen existing flooding.
Sources: USA TODAY, “2 feet of rain reported in Florida amid historic deluge”, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/weather/2026/11/03/dramatic-rain-flooding-in-florida-prompt-rescues-evacuations/92581349007/ ; National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center storm summary, via https://watchers.news/2026/11/03/florida-declares-emergency-after-catastrophic-flooding-in-southern-brevard-county/
