County: Levy
ZIP Codes: 32696
Williston, Florida, while it is situated inland Alachua and Levy counties and thus not directly on the coast, is not immune to the impacts of hurricanes and tropical storms. Its particular geographical position places it around 22 miles from the Gulf Coast, making it susceptible to the impacts of storms that make landfall in this region. Despite being set inland, the town can still experience substantial rainfall, high winds, and tornadoes as hurricanes move inland. Since Williston is located on relatively flat terrain with an average elevation of 32 feet, it is generally less susceptible to the threat of storm surge compared to coastal towns. However, the heavy rainfall that accompanies tropical systems could lead to localized flooding, especially considering the town's proximity to smaller bodies of water. Historically, the town has experienced the effects of several major hurricanes and tropical storms within the past three decades. The most notable perhaps was in 2004 when Florida was hit by two major hurricanes in quick succession; Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Jeanne both caused extensive damage in Williston due to their strong winds and heavy rainfall, triggering notable flooding. More recently, Hurricane Irma in 2017 also had significant impact on the town, again due to extreme rainfall leading to local flooding. Given these historical occurrences, it isn't farfetched to consider hurricane threats and subsequent flooding as major weather-related risks for Williston, Florida.