Another round of thunderstorms swept across a waterlogged South Florida on Thursday, following days of heavy rain that had caused major travel disruptions and flooded roads and homes.
Thursday was the third consecutive day of tropical downpours as a line of storms, stretching from the west coast to the east coast of the state, brought downpours that raised the risk of flash flooding through the evening.
The prospect of rainfall totals similar to those measured on Wednesday, and reports of persistent standing water, prompted forecasters at the Weather Prediction Center to elevate the risk for excessive rain to “high,” the top level on a four-category scale. The area of rain and flood risk included the east-west section of Interstate 75 known as Alligator Alley.
Forecasters said there was potential for higher-end rainfall totals, with four to eight inches of additional rain likely and some locations potentially receiving more than 10 inches.
It was unclear what cities would record the highest rainfall totals on Thursday, but even a little rain was expected to exacerbate the ongoing flooding, warned forecasters, particularly in rural and urban locations that have already seen rain.
Heavy rainfall on Wednesday caused flash flooding from Fort Lauderdale to downtown Miami, battering major urban areas and shuttering roads, including part of the Interstate 95. The severity of the weather prompted Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida to declare a state of emergency in Broward, Collier, Lee, Miami-Dade and Sarasota counties.
The floodwaters have swamped shopping strips, submerged cars and left residents in some neighborhoods wading waist-deep through the deluge. School officials in Parkland, Fla., also postponed plans to begin demolishing Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where a former student killed 17 people in 2018, because of the weather.
A daily record of nine and a half inches of rainfall was set in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, breaking a previous record of almost five and a half inches that had stood since 1978. In two days, more than a foot of rain fell from the sky over Miami Beach, with 13.64 inches being reported.
Other 48-hour rain totals have almost doubled that amount, with North Miami unofficially receiving 20 inches and Hallandale and Hollywood each receiving 19 inches since Tuesday. All eclipsed the average rainfall of 10 and a half inches for June in the Miami area.
Flood watches were still in place through Thursday for parts of the state, the National Weather Service warned. Officials in several places, including Fort Lauderdale, urged residents to avoid driving while water levels remain 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 the wet weather conditions.
Travelers on Thursday were still experiencing disruptions. More than 400 flights to or from Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport were either canceled or delayed on Thursday, according to FlightAware. American Airlines had canceled more than 150 flights to and from the airport in Miami, about a quarter of its planned trips there for the day.
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