Parts of South Florida faced dangerous flooding on Wednesday (12), amid repeated episodes of torrential rain that filled neighborhoods and roads, prompting the state’s governor, Ron DeSantis, to declare an emergency.
By early Wednesday evening, Fort Lauderdale, one of the hardest-hit cities, had received between 7 and 8.5 inches of rain since midnight, Fort Lauderdale authorities said on X. An additional 5 inches was expected overnight, they added.
The bad weather also caused hundreds of flight cancellations and delays at two of the region’s major airports. At least 320 flights were canceled at Miami International Airport and over 280 flights were canceled at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
In Miami, up to 5 inches of rain fell in just a few hours, causing flash flooding in the metro area. This marks the second consecutive day Miami has faced flooding issues. The storms had already dumped between 2 to 5 inches of rain and flooded streets on Tuesday (11).
While the state is accustomed to torrential rains, heavy downpours are becoming even more intense as the planet warms due to fossil fuel pollution. The current rains are also being fueled by tropical moisture from parts of the Caribbean, channeled directly into South Florida.
Source: CNN