Well, that didn’t take long.
Over the weekend, flows in the Peace River between Bartow and Arcadia went from slightly below normal in Bartow and normal farther south to above normal in the headwaters to historic highs (see graph above from Arcadia gauge) for this time of year downstream, according to the US Geologic Service.
The rain also caused an unknown amount of stormwater to escape from a berm at Mosaic’s South Fort Meade mine near Charlie Creek in Hardee County, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
In Arcadia there were reports of flooded streets and school closures until the water recedes.
There were flood warnings in Hardee County.
The rain is predicted to abate by late this week, giving the rivers a chance to begin receding.
This appears to be the first taste of the Super El Nino that is predicted to bring more rain this winter, which is normally a drier part of the year.
People need to check their insurance coverage and be prepared.