Wednesday, December 15, 2021
A stalled low dumped 15 to 20 inches of rain on Palm Bay and southern Brevard County, forcing rescues, a shelter-in-place advisory and a boil water notice for some homes.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for Palm Bay and nearby communities in southern Brevard County, Florida, on Monday morning, November 2, 2026, The Weather Channel reported. Heavy rain fell overnight and kept falling. Flood alerts began late Sunday night along the Space Coast. A flash flood emergency is the weather service's top-tier flood warning, used for life-threatening conditions. FOX 35 Orlando reported that Palm Bay officials issued a shelter-in-place advisory for thousands of residents and urged people to stay off the roads.
The Weather Channel said radar and local observation stations showed more than 15 inches of rain in southern and coastal Brevard County, including near Palm Bay. FOX Weather reported radar estimates of 18 to 20 inches in 12 hours just south of Palm Bay. By NOAA's measure, more than 15.5 inches in 12 hours there counts as a 1,000-year flood event. FOX Weather also reported that the governor declared a state of emergency. Palm Bay police reported vehicles stuck in floodwater and some sinking. Palm Bay Fire Rescue turned all three of its new brush trucks into high-water rescue vehicles. According to FOX 35, crews pulled residents from flooded neighborhoods and brought them to Palm Bay City Hall, which served as a temporary meeting point. Parking lots and businesses along Palm Bay Road and Franklin Drive were underwater in the morning.
The flooding also hit the water system. WFTV reported that a water main break along Port Malabar Boulevard NE forced the city to shut off water to some customers, because flooding kept crews from making repairs. The city plans a boil water notice for affected homes. WKMG News 6 reported that Brevard Public Schools canceled classes Monday and Tuesday, and cities paused services such as trash pickup. Melbourne City Hall and Palm Bay City Hall closed to the public.
The Weather Channel said the cause was a weak, slow-moving low pressure system that stalled over the Florida peninsula with a strong, moist flow off the Atlantic. FOX Weather reported that the flash flood emergency later expired, but a flash flood warning stayed in effect. Forecasters put much of Florida's east coast, from Miami to Jacksonville, under a Level 2 out of 4 flood threat as more rain moves through. Southern Brevard has seen this before: a November 2023 flash flood also struck Brevard and Indian River counties. Because the ground is soaked, even moderate rain can flood streets again.
If you are under the shelter-in-place advisory, stay put. Turn around at any flooded road, because a car can stall in water that looks shallow, as Palm Bay drivers found on Monday. Acting fast and staying alive when a flood strikes comes down to a few basics: get to high ground, stay out of moving water and keep a charged phone for alerts.
If you live in the Port Malabar area, follow the boil water notice once the city issues it. Bring tap water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before you use it for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth or washing dishes. You can also use bottled water. Our guide to boiling water to purify it walks through the steps. A few stored gallons per person will cover you until service returns.
Pack or check a flood emergency kit that stays dry now, with medications, documents in sealed bags, flashlights and chargers. More rain is in the forecast, and a ready bag lets you leave within minutes if rescuers knock.
When the water drops, take photos of the damage before you move anything, and wear boots and gloves around floodwater. Our flood cleanup steps that save your home explain how to dry walls and floors before mold sets in. Then sit down as a household and build your family flood plan in one afternoon. Include a meeting point, like the one Palm Bay set up at City Hall.
Later Monday, conditions along Palm Bay Road were better than in the morning. A flash flood warning remained, and more rain was possible across Central Florida. Watch for updates from the National Weather Service in Melbourne and the City of Palm Bay. Be Prepared Not Scared!
