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 sig

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