A deluge of downpours across the region Friday courtesy of a nearby tropical wave - Invest 92L - has produced record rainfall in Fort Myers and Naples.
According to the National Weather Service, 4.55 inches of rain has fallen at Page Field in Fort Myers. This total breaks the previous daily record for the date of 3.57 inches from 1995. On an average day, Fort Myers sees about a third of an inch of rain.
In Naples, the daily rainfall record was also broken.
2.97 inches of rain was recorded, breaking the old record of 2.25 inches from 1954. Today's accumulations brings the monthly total to nearly 11.5 inches. Typically by this point in August, we would have seen only 6.86 inches of rain.
If you haven't gotten lost in the numbers yet, there's a good chance you've lost sight of street lanes and parking lot lines as the rain has caused dozens of roads to be flooded and several road closures throughout the day, especially in Lee and Collier Counties west of I-75.
On Pine Island, radar estimates show as much as 10 inches of rain may have fallen in isolated areas.
Unfortunately, the rain is expected to continue on an off and on basis through the weekend with more big accumulations possible through Sunday.
