A slow moving storm that stalled over west Central Florida — including portions of Lake and Orange counties — dropped nearly 15 inches of rain on parts of Mount Dora and Eustis late Sunday, washing out several main roads.
“There was not a lot of forward motion to it,” said Jessie Schaper, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Melbourne, about the storm. “It was sitting over the same location for several hours. When this happens, it creates a worst-case scenario.”
Cathy Hoechst, a former Mount Dora mayor and longtime resident, said the rain started Sunday afternoon, with brief pauses, and then continued throughout the evening.
“There would be a break and then it would just dump rain,” she said. “It was like the skies just opened.”
Lake Commission Chair Leslie Campione signed an emergency declaration for the county and said the state’s Emergency Management Department is working with Lake County emergency officials to assess the damage.
Because of water main line breaks, Mount Dora residents were advised to boil any water they planned to use for drinking or cooking.
Lake County spokeswoman Lexie Farmer said crews have been assessing the damage — including any roads that washed out — since early Monday.
“But as far as we know, nobody has been displaced” because of a flooded home, she said.
Mount Dora experiencing heavy flooding in several areas Sunday night, Oct. 26, 2025 causing Wolfbranch Road at Timberlake Drive to be washed out. (Mount Dora Police Department)
On Monday, Central Florida can expect another round of afternoon thunderstorms, with some areas experiencing significant downpours. But forecasters say today’s rainfall is not expected to reach the same intensity as Sunday.
The downpours were caused by a warm front that lifted northward from Central Florida and released moisture. It comes ahead of a cold front pushing south that is forecast to move into the region later this week, which will gradually bring drier weather and lower temperatures.
“We should start to see a transition from our current pattern of very wet to more fall-like weather by the end of the week,” Schaper said.
The low temperatures on Thursday are forecast to drop to 52 degrees and the highs will reach only the lower 70s.
In Mount Dora, city officials delayed opening City Hall until 10 a.m. for staff to safely arrive and allow crews to assess damage.
Roads closed because of wash outs include: Wolf Branch Road, between Britt and Round Lake roads; Donnelly Street, between Limit Avenue and U.S. Highway 441; Old Eustis Road, between Donnelly Street and Dogwood Circle; U.S. 441, between Limit Avenue and Bristol Lake Road; Donnelley Street, between Pine Avenue and the Waterman Village entrance at Manorside Drive.
Mount Dora experiencing heavy flooding in several areas Sunday night, Oct. 26, 2025 causing Donnelly Street to be washed out. (Mount Dora Police Department)
This is a developing story.
