County: Polk
ZIP Codes: 33860, 33835
Bradley Junction, in Florida, sits at a significant distance from the coastline, which affords it some initial level of protection against direct hits from hurricanes. These systems tend to lose power quite rapidly as they move inland; thus, depending on the direction and power of the storm, impact can vary greatly. Nevertheless, being further inland, Bradley Junction is prone to significant rainfall during hurricanes, posing risk for floods, especially since Florida's flattish topography doesn't facilitate rapid natural drainage. It's essential to note that most of Bradley Junction is relatively low-lying with an average elevation of around 46 feet. This low elevation increases the town's susceptibility to flood damage especially during periods of heavy, persistent rain. Looking into the past three decades, many hurricanes and tropical storms have affected Florida's mainland. However, no recorded hurricane has made a direct hit at Bradley Junction. Most notably, Hurricane Irma in 2017, one of the strongest storms on record in the Atlantic, moved just west of the town causing considerable wind damage and widespread power outages. The storm deposited significant amounts of rain in the area, leading to minor to moderate flooding in some parts of the town. Predicting exactly what future storms could do is difficult, but based upon past trends and current environmental factors, Bradley Junction should remain vigilant to strong wind damage, along with potential flooding risks, during hurricane season.