PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA — Florida is about to get a staggering amount of water. Forecasters estimate that about 4.6 trillion gallons of rain will fall across the Sunshine State over the next seven days, equal to roughly 7 million Olympic-size swimming pools. The heaviest rain is expected across the Florida Panhandle and northern half of the state, where the hardest-hit areas could see 6 inches or more, including Pensacola, Panama City, Tallahassee and Jacksonville. The rain will help chip away at the drought gripping 52 percent of Florida, but forecasters warn that too much rain too fast could also bring flooding.
How Much Is 4.6 Trillion Gallons?
The number is hard to imagine. 4.6 trillion gallons is enough water to fill about 7 million Olympic pools, spread across a state that covers more than 65,000 square miles.
Most of that rain is expected to fall in North Florida and the Panhandle, with totals dropping sharply the farther south you go.
Panhandle Gets the Brightest Colors on the Map
The Florida Panhandle sits in the deepest colors on the 7-day rainfall forecast. Areas around Pensacola, Navarre, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Panama City and Port St. Joe could see 6 to 10 inches, with isolated spots even higher, especially just offshore and along the coast.
With so much rain falling in a week, low-lying neighborhoods, coastal roads and areas near rivers and bayous will be at risk for flooding.
Tallahassee and the Big Bend
and the Big Bend are also in the heavy rain zone, with 6 inches or more possible. Communities such as Apalachicola, Perry, Crawfordville and Monticello could see several rounds of heavy rain through the week.
Jacksonville and Northeast Florida
In northeast Florida, Jacksonville and surrounding areas could also see 6 inches or more. St. Augustine, Fernandina Beach, Orange Park and Palatka may pick up heavy totals as well…