With heavy rains forecast to return to Central Florida soon, the city of Winter Springs is opening a self-serve sandbagging site for Seminole County residents.
According to a news release from the city, empty bags and sand will be available to all county residents Friday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., while supplies last.
Residents are limited to 15 sandbags per household and people should bring shovels and gloves and be prepared to fill and load bags themselves, the city advised. Filled sandbags can weigh about 35 pounds.
Drivers should enter Central Winds Park via State Road 434 and Central Winds Drive. Once inside the park continue on to the roundabout to the left and then straight to the parking area at rear of the park.
As of the National Hurricane Center’s 2 p.m. Thursday tropical outlook, a surface trough located over portions of the Gulf of Mexico with disorganized showers and thunderstorms is likely to form into an area of low pressure this weekend or early next week.
Meteorologist Brendan Schaper with the National Weather Service in Melbourne said the Florida peninsula is likely to see deep moisture.
“This will result in more cloud cover, higher coverage of rain, and a few lightning storms,” Schaper said. “Instability does not appear as impressive through the extended period … However, the threat of heavy rain and instances of localized flooding are expected to increase next week.”
The Weather Prediction Center has put Central and South Florida in a marginal risk for excessive rainfall Monday. Heavy rain could continue into Tuesday and beyond.