Another round of thunderstorms swept through flooded South Florida on Thursday, after days of heavy rain that caused major traffic disruptions and flooded roads and homes.
Thursday was the third straight day of tropical downpours as a line of storms stretched from the state’s west coast to the east coast, causing torrential downpours that increased the risk of flash flooding throughout the day. dark.
The prospect of rainfall totals similar to those measured Wednesday, and reports of persistent standing water, prompted forecasters at the Weather Prediction Center to raise the risk of excessive rain to “high.” ”, the highest level on the four-category scale. The area at risk for rain and flooding includes the east-west stretch of Interstate 75 known as Alligator Alley.
Forecasters said higher rainfall totals are likely, with the possibility of additional 4 to 8 inches of rain and some locations likely to receive more than 10 inches of rain.
It’s unclear which cities will record the highest rainfall totals on Thursday, but even a light rain is predicted to worsen ongoing flooding, forecasters warn, especially is in rural and urban areas that have experienced rain.
Wednesday’s heavy rainfall caused flash flooding from Fort Lauderdale to downtown Miami, devastating major metropolitan areas and road closureincluding part of Interstate 95. The severity of the weather prompted Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida to declare a state of emergency in Broward, Collier, Lee, Miami-Dade and Sarasota counties.
Floodwaters have flooded shopping areas, submerged cars and forced people in some areas to wade through waist-deep water. School officials in Parkland, Fla., also postponed plans to begin demolition of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where a former student killed 17 people in 2018 because of weather.
A daily record of 9 1/2 inches of rain was set in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, breaking the previous record of nearly 5 1/2 inches that had stood since 1978. Over two days, more than a foot of rain fell from sky fell over Miami Beach, with reports of 13.64 inches.
Rainfall totals over another 48 hours nearly doubled that amount, with North Miami unofficially receiving 20 inches and Hallandale and Hollywood each receiving 19 inches since Tuesday. It all eclipsed the Miami area’s average 10 and a half inches of rain in June.
The National Weather Service maintains a flood watch through Thursday for parts of the state. warning. Officials in many places, including Fort Lauderdale, urge people to avoid driving while the water level remains high. Two people died and three others were injured in a car crash in Collier County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, after a driver lost control in wet weather conditions.
Travelers on Thursday still encountered disruption. According to statistics, more than 400 flights to or from Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport were canceled or delayed on Thursday. Flight understanding. American Airlines canceled more than 150 flights to and from Miami airport, about a quarter of its planned trips for the day.
Niraj Chokshi Report contributions.
