Forecasters said the colossal amount of rain dropped on parts of Florida east and north of Orlando was comparable to what the region saw from a hurricane in 2022, underscoring the state's vulnerability to extreme weather far beyond the tropical storms that brew offshore.

A series of weather systems have contributed to heavy rain and dangerous surf across parts of the Southeast, especially in Florida, but the well-timed systems also are part of a weather pattern that's forecast to help spare the mainland U.S. from any direct impacts from powerful Hurricane Melissa.

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Melissa is expected to bring "life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and landslides" to Hispaniola and Jamaica through the weekend.

"It is more than kind of distressing because you don't know when and you don't know how," said Ewan Simpson, who lives in Jamaica.