As the first week of hurricane season dawned in southern Florida, a tropical disturbance brought a rare flash flood emergency to much of the region. The disorganized storm system was pushing across Florida from the Gulf of Mexico, coinciding with the early June start of hurricane season, which is forecast to be among the most active in recent memory due to concerns about climate change increasing storm intensity.
On Wednesday, the downpours and subsequent flooding blocked roads, floated vehicles, and even delayed the Florida Panthers on their way to Stanley Cup games in Canada against the Edmonton Oilers. The National Weather Service in Miami warned that even a small duration of heavy rainfall could lead to more flash flooding, and the agency’s social media post sparked concerns about the floodwaters.
Numerous roads remained flooded and impassable for vehicles, with Interstate 95 in Broward county forced to divert southbound traffic around a flooded section. Contractors were dispatched to pump the drainage system, and the highway would not reopen until the water was drained. Mayors in Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood declared states of emergency for their cities, while Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for five counties.
Miami-Dade county mayor Daniella Levine Cava also issued a local state of emergency, urging residents to stay off the roadways and seek higher ground. As residents struggled to navigate the flooded streets, a pet owner named Mike Viesel recounted his harrowing ordeal after his car stalled in deep floodwater, forcing him to abandon his vehicle. In Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood, the lobby of a building flooded for the fifth time since one resident, Alfredo Rodriguez, moved in.
Southern Florida Heavy RainfallIn related news, dozens of flights were delayed or canceled at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, including the NHL’s Florida Panthers, who were delayed more than three hours before departing for their nearly six-hour flight to Edmonton. The region had already experienced a wet and blustery week, with about 6 inches of rain falling in Miami and 7 inches in Miami Beach, according to the National Weather Service.
Bryan McNoldy, a senior research associate at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School, noted on social media that some areas had already received 9 inches of rain since 7 am on Wednesday, in addition to the rain that fell on Tuesday. “We are in trouble,” he wrote.
More rain was forecast for the rest of the week, leading the weather service office in Miami to extend a flash flood watch through Thursday. Some places could see another 6 inches of rain, according to forecasts. The region is also bracing for an unusually busy hurricane season, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicting a high chance of above-average activity, including up to 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes.