According to the Suwannee River Water Management District, the Suwannee River reached flood just before noon today. Flood stage at White Springs is 77.9 feet at 12:00 pm today and the river is expected to reach 81 feet on Wednesday. On Monday morning of this week the river was at 55 feet. The influx of local rainfall in the northern part of Columbia County is being estimated at 15-20 inches over the past 24 hour.
Meanwhile, the southern portion of Columbia County is estimated to have received between 3-5 inches over the same span. The Santa Fe River at Fort White has a flood stage of 24 feet and was measured at 21.81 feet this morning. The river is expected to reach 25.9 feet by Friday evening. At Three Rivers Estates, the Santa Fe was measured at 9.91 feet and rise to flood stage of 19 feet on Saturday.
Portions of I-10 are closed from U.S. 90 East near the Olustee Battlefield exit to I-75. In addition I-10 is closed in Madison County due to a sinkhole in the west-bound lanes and from I-75 to U.S. 90 in Suwannee County. U.S. 90 is closed in both lanes from CR 137 in Wellborn and to within the city limits of Live Oak. Branford Highway in Lake City is closed from U.S. 90 to the Bascom Norris Road.
A shelter for those affected by local flooding remains open at Richardson Middle School, located one block south of Baya Avenue. 646 SE Pennsylvania Street. Additional shelters may open later today or Wednesday.
The National Weather Service is predicting that Tropical Storm Debby will come ashore near Cedar Key on Wednesday. Top winds are estimated to be 10-15 miles per hour in our area. However, the forecast predicts as much as 5-10 inches of additional rains in our area during the next 24-36 hours.
ROAD CLOSURE UPDATE:
Lake City – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is providing an update on road and bridge closures in Northeast Florida due to Tropical Storm Debby.
Baker and Columbia County
- I-10 between I-75 (Exit 296) and US 90 (Exit 324) is closed. Traffic is detoured to US 90 or I-75 to US 90.
Baker County
- US 90 from I-10 to Nassau County line – partial closure in three areas.
Columbia County
- SR 247 north of CR 240.
- SR 47 at I-75.
- US 441 at US 41 split in Lake City (in front of Columbia High School). Traffic is detoured to US 41.
- US 441 from I-10 to CR 6 – partial closure in four areas.
- US 441 from CR 6 to the Georgia line is closed.
- US 41 at I-10 – two way traffic in the northbound lanes – southbound lanes are closed.
Lafayette County
- SR 51 partial closure south of Mayo.
Levy County
- SR 24 in Cedar Key.
Suwannee County
- US 90 in downtown Live Oak and east of Live Oak.
- US 129 in Live Oak.
If the road ahead is flooded, turn around and find an alternate route. Flooded roads may hide the fact that the roadway is washed out underneath and as little as six inches of rushing water can force your car off the road.
For the latest closures and updates, use www.FL511.com or follow the Florida Department of Transportation District Two on Twitter at @MyFDOT_NEFL.
