Torrential rain and powerful winds have wreaked havoc in South Florida, causing widespread power outages and forcing schools to close. Although flash flood warnings have expired, light rainfall is still expected throughout the day along the East Coast.
While flood watches have ended for most of southeastern Florida, they remain in place for nearly 1.5 million people in eastern Florida. Over 125,000 homes and businesses are currently without power in the state, with Miami-Dade County accounting for more than half of the outages.
The heaviest rainfall has moved off the southeastern coast of Florida, but areas with already saturated soil are still experiencing flash flooding. Southeast Florida is being hit with rainfall totals approaching double digits, with areas around Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and the Florida Keys at risk of receiving up to 10 inches of rain within just 48 hours.
Due to safety concerns from flooding, Broward County Public Schools and Broward College have canceled classes and closed their facilities. The impact of the severe weather has been evident, with wind gusts toppling over a tree and destroying two cars in Lauderdale Lakes, Broward County.
The situation is still dire along the eastern coast of Florida, as a slight risk for excessive rainfall and a high wind warning are currently in effect. This heightens the threat of further power outages and exacerbates the challenges faced by residents and businesses.
Fort Lauderdale, in particular, has already experienced an abnormally wet year, with 100 inches of rain recorded so far. This is just shy of breaking the record for the wettest year in the city’s history. The ongoing heavy rainfall in southeastern Florida has significantly increased the probability of flash flooding, especially in urban areas and the vulnerable Florida Keys.
The combination of saturated ground and ongoing king tides, which are abnormally high tides, could further prolong the flooding in coastal communities. These extreme rainfall events are increasingly becoming more frequent, and they are a direct consequence of the warming climate.
Residents and authorities in South Florida are urged to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions during this challenging weather period. KP Insider will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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