South Florida is currently experiencing heavy rainfall and flooding, stirring up memories of the unprecedented April flooding among residents. The region, still recovering from the April deluge where Fort Lauderdale witnessed a staggering 26 inches of rain causing severe flash floods, is bracing itself for another round of intense weather conditions. The National Weather Service Miami has forecasted up to 10 inches of rain in some areas, with a high likelihood of flash floods in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties as the storm persists.
Unexpected wind speeds are a threat
Another concern is manifesting itself as the storm intensifies – wind. In a statement issued at 3:52 this morning, the National Weather Service in Miami said:
“Winds are far over-performing any of the model guidance this
morning. Wind gusts of 60 mph have been observed along the coast
and some marine locations have seen frequent gusts of 50-60 kts.
Upgraded coastal Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm beach to a High
Wind Warning through 18Z and upgraded the Atlantic waters and
Biscayne Bay to a Storm Warning through 18Z. ” 18Z is 12 noon local time.
Storm expert Jim Cantore, in a Tweet, compared the system to a tropical storm.
Rain to continue throughout Thursday
Forecasters predict that the rain will not cease until Thursday morning and will continue sporadically throughout the day. Broward County Public Schools announced the closure of all schools and district offices on Thursday due to the worsening weather conditions. Similarly, Broward College canceled campus activities on Wednesday night following a comprehensive evaluation of its campuses and centers. However, Palm Beach County and Miami-Dade County Public Schools will remain open on Thursday. The Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court’s Chief Judge, Jack Tuter, informed through an email on Wednesday night that courthouses will also be closed on Thursday.
Flood Watch In Effect
A flood watch, effective through 10 a.m. Thursday, extends from St. Lucie County down to Homestead. This watch includes the densely populated regions of Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties. Forecasters have observed “a very well-organized and concentrated area” of heavy rainfall, continuing late into the night, with rates reaching 1 to 2 inches per hour. This situation has raised alarms for “significant and locally life-threatening” flash floods in some areas until Thursday morning.
Heavy rainfall has already occured
Preliminary data from NWS Miami showed that as of Wednesday evening, the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport recorded 4.2 inches of rain, Pembroke Pines 3.3 inches, and areas in Miami-Dade between 2.5 and 3.4 inches. West Palm Beach reported just over an inch. However, rainfall totals for Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Pompano Beach Airport, and Homestead in Miami-Dade were not available due to issues with the rain gauge.
In Fort Lauderdale, some areas had already received 6.5 inches of rain by Wednesday evening, as reported by city officials. A flash flood warning was issued for Broward County and the northern and central parts of Miami-Dade County shortly before 9:30 p.m. last night, coinciding with Wednesday night’s high tide. The warning highlighted the difficulties in drainage for many coastal areas due to the high tide.
Additional rain totals
Forecasters predict that the eastern coastal areas of South Florida are likely to accumulate an additional 4 to 6 inches of rain through Thursday, with some areas possibly exceeding 8 inches. The immediate eastern coast is expected to experience the highest rainfall totals, with the worst-case scenario predicting up to 10 inches of rain north and south of Fort Lauderdale.
Up to 3 inches per hour
Flash flooding is expected from the Florida Keys to West Palm Beach as the storm progresses, with potential rainfall rates of up to 3 inches per hour. Forecasters noted “considerable uncertainty” regarding the locations of the highest rainfall totals due to the unpredictable nature of the storm bands. Wind gusts of up to 60 mph are forecasted from Jupiter Inlet to Homestead. A High Wind Warning has been issued for coastal Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach through 18Z, and a Storm Warning for the Atlantic waters and Biscayne Bay through the same period.
As the region continues to face threatening weather conditions, residents are advised to stay informed and take necessary precautions.
