Heavy afternoon storms are creating problems in many Orlando-area neighborhoods and the accumulated rainfall has caused the temporary closure of the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour.
The 2024 hurricane season has logged a great deal of activity with just under three months remaining. While no named storms currently threaten Central Florida, localized flooding and higher-than-average levels in lakes and other bodies of water have been reported. The city’s Natural Resources & Sustainability Department issued a statement regarding the recent closure of the Dinky Dock Park boat ramp and access to the Winter Park Chain of Lakes.
“The Winter Park Chain of Lakes has a protocol in the city’s Flood Management Guide that calls for its closure when the lake levels reach above 66.1 feet due to property damage and special flood hazard risks,” reads the statement. “After receiving yet another round of high intensity rains yesterday, September 10, Lake Virginia was recorded at 66.3 feet.”
According to the city, precautions are based on U.S. Geological Survey data on water flow from the Howell Creek basin: the watershed that contains the Winter Park and Loch Haven Chain of Lakes. Inspections and maintenance to city stormwater systems are being conducted and Lake Mendsen in Martin Luther King, Jr. Park was lowered to accommodate additional rainfall. Lakes Killarney and Bell are being closely monitored but have not reached high enough levels to require adaptive management.
Access to Winter Park Chain of Lakes and the Scenic Boat Tour will reopen when lakes reach a safe level. Updates will be provided as necessary and in the event of local flooding or hurricane warnings, the list of official City of Winter Park information resources is as follows:
- citEnews email service – cityofwinterpark.org/citEnews
- Facebook – facebook.com/WinterParkEmergencyInfo
- Twitter – twitter.com/WinterParkFla
- Nextdoor – sign up at nextdoor.com
- City’s emergency alert system – sign up at cityofwinterpark.org/outreach.
Other resources include:
- Non-emergency information line 407-599-3494 (live during Emergency Operation Center activation)
- Report electric utility power outages to 1-877-811-8700
- Report water & wastewater utilities outages to 407-599-3219