The St. Johns River above Lake Harney moved into moderate flood stage Friday afternoon, as forecast, but the gauge near Sanford at Lake Monroe has stayed just under flood stage longer than expected. The National Weather Service now expects the Sanford gauge to cross its 5.5-foot flood level Sunday evening rather than early Saturday, and both Seminole County gauges are still forecast to be rising when the current forecast ends Thursday, Nov. 12.
Flood warnings from the weather service's Melbourne office remain in effect for both locations until further notice. The rise comes from the historic Brevard County flooding draining downstream into Seminole, Volusia and Lake counties along the north-flowing river, WKMG reported.
*Gauge readings as of 10:30 p.m. EST Saturday, Nov. 7, from the National Water Prediction Service; forecast issued 8:37 p.m. EST Saturday.*
Above Lake Harney
The gauge above Lake Harney near Geneva first reached 9 feet, the start of moderate flooding, at 1:30 p.m. Friday, and read 9.09 feet late Saturday. That is about a day later than Thursday's forecast had predicted, and the river has been rising slowly, gaining less than 0.2 foot in the past 24 hours.
The new forecast has it reaching about 9.3 feet by Sunday evening, 9.5 feet Wednesday and 9.6 feet Thursday morning. That crest is a little lower and later than Thursday's forecast of 9.8 feet by Tuesday evening. The weather service's warning says more rises are possible after Thursday and that the river may approach major flood stage, 10 feet, late next week.
Under the weather service's impact statements for that gauge, a 9-foot reading puts water into the ground floor of homes on Whitcomb Drive between Crossover Lane and Lake Harney Road and covers Mullet Lake Park. At 9.3 feet, many secondary roads near Lake Harney flood. At 9.5 feet, water starts entering low-lying homes along the river and the Black Hammock area by Lake Jesup floods.
The record at that gauge is 12.67 feet, set in October 2022 after Hurricane Ian.
Near Sanford and Lake Monroe
The gauge near Sanford read 5.31 feet late Saturday, in action stage. Thursday's forecast had it crossing flood stage around 1 a.m. Saturday, but the river added only about 0.1 foot over the past day. The weather service's warning now calls for it to pass flood stage Sunday evening and keep rising to 6.3 feet Thursday evening, with more rises possible after that. Moderate flooding there begins at 7 feet.
The weather service says a 6.2-foot reading means water ringing many houses in the Still Brook and Stone Island neighborhoods, flooded pool enclosures and patios, many roads under water, and high water on Enterprise Road and inside the Bethel Loop subdivision.
The Sanford Fire Department said in a Saturday update that Lake Monroe, at 4.8 feet Monday, had climbed to 5.22 feet, with a projection of 6.2 feet by Wednesday, Nov. 11, WFTV reported. The department said that figure should not be read as the lake's peak and that it would release forecasts past Nov. 11 later.
The department warned that higher water could flood parts of Seminole Boulevard along the Sanford waterfront and force road closures, and said it would tell residents which areas to avoid. Its notice did not announce any closures in effect, according to WFTV. In the weather service's impact list for the Sanford gauge, water starts pushing over the Lake Monroe sea wall and onto Seminole Boulevard at 7 feet, above the current forecast crest.
"We encourage everyone to stay informed, use caution when traveling, and avoid flooded roadways," Fire Chief McNeil said, as quoted by WFTV.
Sandbags, parks and closures
Seminole County's two self-serve sandbag sites remain open daily, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., WKMG reported Friday, until further notice: the former Geneva volunteer fire station at 217 2nd St. in Geneva, and the overflow lot of the Boombah Sports Complex, 3325 Cameron Ave., in Sanford.
Seminole County has closed Mullet Lake Park and several other properties along the river because of the high water, and WESH reported Friday that a road-underwater warning sign had been posted where Starboard Drive meets Mullet Lake Park Road.
High water has also led state wildlife officers to restrict boating on parts of the river, including areas near Lake Monroe and Mullet Lake, FOX 35 reported, citing the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
In Winter Springs, the Central Winds Park dock stays closed until further notice because of high water on Lake Jesup, and the Bear Creek Nature Trail is also closed, according to the city. The city's self-serve sandbag pickup at Central Winds Park was scheduled to end Thursday, Spectrum News 13 reported, and the city's news page showed no new flood notice as of late Saturday.
Gov. Ron DeSantis added Seminole County to his flood emergency order on Wednesday, WKMG reported, which activates the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard and lets state agencies coordinate resources.
The weather service urges drivers not to go around barricades or drive through flooded roads, and to use caution near riverbanks.
Sources
- https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/GENF1
- https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/SNFF1
- https://api.weather.gov/alerts/active?area=FL
- https://www.wftv.com/news/local/seminole-boulevard-may-face-flooding-lake-monroe/G2ZEMXOJHNBFLK4O4E6QZADTMQ/
- https://www.wftv.com/news/local/seminole-county/lake-monroe-water-levels-rise-amid-increasing-flood-risks-sanford/5356OPZFGBEXBCWQAHE34EAI2U/
- https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/11/06/live-near-the-st-johns-river-where-to-find-sandbags-in-lake-seminole-and-volusia-counties/
- https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/11/05/saint-johns-river-flooding-forces-seminole-county-residents-to-sandbag-homes/
- https://www.wesh.com/article/seminole-county-st-johns-river-water-levels-rise/74363491
- https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/st-johns-river-flooding-expected-worsen-parts-central-florida-forecasters-say
- https://www.winterspringsfl.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?aid=51
- https://www.winterspringsfl.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?aid=50
- https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2026/11/03/winter-springs-to-open-sandbag-location-due-to-increased-rain
- https://www.clickorlando.com/weather/2026/11/04/florida-flooding-state-of-emergency-expands-to-lake-seminole-and-volusia-counties/
