Heavy rain pounded South Florida on Wednesday, closing major roads, stranding vehicles, causing delays and cancellations at airports and causing flash flooding in the Fort Lauderdale and Miami areas.
Anthony Raines, a senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami, said Wednesday afternoon that the severe weather, which began Tuesday, was caused by a cold front that was “stationary” over parts of the state, dumping more than 10 inches of rain in some areas.
Rains added that flash flooding had been reported from Fort Lauderdale to downtown Miami, noting that major urban areas, including homes, were flooded and many vehicles were stranded. As of Wednesday evening, more than 10 inches of rain had fallen in Hollywood, Florida, more than 9 inches in Fort Lauderdale and about 8 inches in Miami, Rains said.
The weather bureau has not received any reports of injuries or fatalities, he said.
Flooding caused the closure of parts of Interstate 95 in Broward County. Hundreds of flights were delayed or canceled at Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, according to flightaware.com. Roads at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport were also at risk of flooding. airport The video posted on social media showed Crowded shopping street And the car Submerged In case of flood, Indoor parking.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency Wednesday for Broward, Collier, Lee, Miami-Dade and Sarasota counties, which gives emergency managers the authority to allocate resources, including personnel, to respond to flooding and other impacts from severe weather.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean J. Trantalis said on social media that resources were being mobilized throughout the city. “If possible, please avoid driving,” he said. “It is critical that you never attempt to drive through high water.”
The city of Fort Lauderdale said in an email Wednesday night that it was dealing with “numerous stranded vehicles” and that several city roads were impassable. Flood warnings will remain in effect until Thursday morning, the city said.
The Meteorological Agency issued its highest level of warning on Wednesday afternoon. Flood emergencyThe rainfall was quickly overwhelming the drainage system, from North Miami to Dania Beach, meteorologist Raines said. “It was becoming a life-threatening situation.”
Storms moved like train cars from coast to coast across the South Florida peninsula on Wednesday, further inundating areas already soaked by rain.
Forecasters warned that the storm line was slowly moving south and that areas already under flood warnings, such as Miami, could see continued rain through the evening, with one to three inches of rain falling per hour.
Heavy rain is expected to fall across South Florida again on Thursday, but it's unclear exactly where the heaviest rain will fall. Given the amount of rainfall Wednesday and the recurring nature of the downpours, forecasters with the Weather Prediction Center said further flash flooding is possible late Thursday morning into the afternoon.