Severe weather slams Florida and triggers flood threat

Heavy rain and severe weather are slamming parts of Florida, with official alerts warning of a flood threat along the state's east coast.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management said on Tuesday morning that a Flood Watch was in place from Volusia County to Miami-Dade County, and that the Weather Prediction Center had marked the region with a slight risk of flash flooding.

National Weather Service forecast pages for South Florida also showed flood watches still active on Wednesday, with more rain and thunderstorms possible.

Local and national weather coverage said the eastern coast, including Daytona Beach, could see the highest additional rain totals, raising the risk of localized flooding in low-lying and poor-drainage areas.

CBS Miami said the flood watch and heavy-rain threat were expected to continue through April 8, while local reports in Central Florida also warned of rounds of heavy rain and strong winds.

The threat comes as forecasters track repeated bands of rain across the peninsula, with officials urging residents in the watch area to stay alert for rapidly changing conditions.