On Wednesday, Tampa was drenched by intense rainfall, leading to numerous drivers facing the harrowing situation of being left stranded due to the sudden and severe flooding throughout the area. WFLA reported that Tampa Fire Rescue was engaged in multiple flood-related incidents and witnessed the aftermath of traffic collisions provoked by the inclement weather. The scenes captured showed vehicles submerged and some with evident damages after crashing.

Some vehicles were stopped by the heavy rain, causing chaos and leading to the closure of major roads like I-275 Southbound at mile marker 40 due to safety concerns. The rain was intense, creating a major disruption with potentially lasting effects for those affected by the flooding. ABC Action News stressed official warnings that driving through such flooded pathways is perilous, with just a foot of water enough to lift most cars and a mere six inches capable of resulting in vehicle stalling and loss of control.

The storm was characterized as a "crazy rain event" by one motorist. Stranded cars dotted the waterlogged landscape of the Tampa Bay area, according to WFLA, with areas like Foch Street in St. Petersburg almost seeing water invade its lawns, and the high waters in the Tyrone area immobilizing vehicles—29th avenue and 38th street north witnessed front ends of cars submerged and street medians obscured beneath the flood.