Peace River near Arcadia faces major flooding as Suncoast sees sunny week

Flood warnings remain active for five waterways in West Central Florida despite a shift toward dry and sunny conditions across the Suncoast.

The Alafia River at Lithia, the Manatee River near Myakka Head, the Peace River at Zolfo Springs and Arcadia, and Horse Creek near Arcadia are all currently under flood warnings. These alerts stay in effect until further notice. The situation is most severe at the Peace River in Arcadia, where moderate flooding is underway and major flooding is forecast.

The Peace River at Arcadia is expected to reach its peak near 16.5 feet on Thursday evening. This rise threatens to flood homes in the River Acres neighborhood and impact nearby structures. Residents in these zones are advised to keep tracking river levels and avoid driving through flooded roadways.

Weather patterns are shifting quickly. Most areas will stay dry tonight with partly cloudy skies and temperatures falling into the lower 70s. Thursday and Friday will feature ample sunshine, with afternoon highs reaching the mid-80s. Evenings will remain comfortable, with temperatures dropping near 70 degrees.

A cold front will push through by the weekend, gradually lowering temperatures. Saturday will bring sunny skies with highs near 83 degrees, followed by overnight lows in the mid-60s. Sunday will see highs around 81 degrees with a light northeast breeze. The cooler air will persist into next week, with afternoon temperatures dropping to the upper 70s by Veterans Day.

Rain chances remain minimal for the rest of the week, though a few isolated showers could return on Tuesday and Wednesday. A tropical disturbance is also being monitored, with a 30 percent chance of development over the next two days and a 50 percent chance over the next seven. The approaching cold front is expected to push this system eastward, away from the state.