FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Almost a foot (30 centimeters) of rain fell in a matter of hours in Fort Lauderdale – inflicting widespread flooding, the closure of the town’s airport and the suspension of high-speed commuter rail service for the Broward County area.
Town of Fort Lauderdale launched an announcement Wednesday night urging residents and guests to remain off the roads till the water has subsided.
“Police and Fireplace Rescue proceed to reply requires service,” the assertion mentioned. “Public Works workers are clearing drains and working pumps to mitigate the water as rapidly as attainable.”
Joe Raedle through Getty Pictures
The Nationwide Climate Service issued a flash flood emergency for Fort Lauderdale and different areas will run into pre-dawn hours Thursday as the possibility of thunderstorms continued throughout the area, warning: “This can be a life-threatening scenario. Search greater floor now!”
There have been no rapid stories of accidents or deaths.
As much as 14 inches had fallen throughout the realm by means of Wednesday and the Nationwide Climate Service mentioned one other 2 to 4 inches had been attainable as a heat entrance continued to push northward, bringing an opportunity of thunderstorms.
Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy instructed CNN that the realm already had seen days of rain. “The bottom was already saturated so there’s intensive flooding throughout our metropolis and all through South Florida. Many roadways are impassable. Numerous automobiles bought caught and left deserted in the course of our roadways,” Levy mentioned. “I’ve lived right here my entire life. That is essentially the most extreme flooding that I’ve ever seen.”
Greater than 22,000 prospects in Florida had been with out electrical energy Wednesday evening, in keeping with poweroutage.us.
All Broward County Public Colleges with be closed Thursday, the district tweeted, including “All afterschool actions, occasions, and extracurricular actions are additionally cancelled tomorrow.”
Wednesday’s relentless showers prompted the airport, one of many largest within the area, to droop all arriving and departing flights, the airport tweeted round 4:15 p.m.
At round 5 p.m., the airport introduced it shut down floor transportation shuttle service in response to recurring twister warnings and ongoing heavy rainfall.
The primary roadways getting into and exiting the airport had been flooded and impassable, the airport mentioned round 5:15 p.m.
“Please don’t try to enter or go away the airport right now,” it warned.
It mentioned airport operations would restart as soon as the climate improves within the Fort Lauderdale space.
The heavy rains additionally prompted South Florida’s high-speed commuter rail service to close down. Brightline posted on Twitter Wednesday night that prepare service between Miami and Fort Lauderdale was suspended.
The Nationwide Climate Service in Miami declared a flash flood emergency round 8 p.m. Wednesday for Fort Lauderdale, together with the areas round Hollywood and Dania Seaside. A short while later, forecasters issued a twister warning for close by Davie, Plantation and Lauderhill.
Video taken by witnesses confirmed water coming within the door at an airport terminal and a digital river dashing down the tarmac between planes.
On Broward Boulevard, a person was seen swimming to the curb on the flooded avenue at rush hour as vehicles rolled by.
Drivers recorded themselves rolling by means of streets the place brown, swirling water was as much as the wheel wells or almost to the hood of vehicles.