CNN
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Substantial downpours have inundated Fort Lauderdale and parts of South Florida Wednesday night in a once-in-a-half-century rainfall event, leading to a flash flood emergency in Broward County and one mayor calling the deluge the “most severe flooding that I’ve ever seen.”
Around 10 to 14 inches of rain have fallen across the area Wednesday and an additional two to four inches are possible as heavy thunderstorms continue to move slowly across the area.
Fort Lauderdale “is experiencing severe flooding in multiple areas of the city,” Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue said on social media, warning to stay off the roads as vehicles may become stuck or submerged.
A flash flood emergency – the highest level of flood warning – has been issued for portions of South Florida, including Fort Lauderdale, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Miami Wednesday night.
“This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION,” the NWS warned. “Move to higher ground now! This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.”
Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy told CNN that “city crews are doing everything they can” to deploy pumps wherever possible and keep drains clear.
“We’ve recorded over 12 inches of rain since midnight, and that’s on top of consecutive days of seemingly nonstop rain,” Levy said. “The ground was already saturated so there is extensive flooding all over our city and throughout South Florida. Many roadways are impassable. Lots of vehicles got stuck and left abandoned in the middle of our roadways.
“I’ve lived here my whole life. This is the most severe flooding that I’ve ever seen,” he said.
Officials have asked residents to avoid driving or traveling in Fort Lauderdale this evening.
“Police and Fire Rescue continue to answer calls for service,” the city of Fort Lauderdale said in a news release on Wednesday evening. “Public Works staff are clearing drains and operating pumps to mitigate the water as quickly as possible. Efforts have been made to relieve traffic congestion through prioritized signaling to assist individuals leaving the City. We are requesting drivers to stay off the roads and avoid the City of Fort Lauderdale until the water has subsided.”
The flooding was impacting rush hour traffic and led to the closure of a tunnel, the city said.
“The Henry E. Kinney Tunnel is closed. Please avoid the area. The weather conditions combined with rush hour traffic are compounding issues in the downtown area,” the city said.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Wednesday it is “being inundated with non-emergency 911 calls regarding the inclement weather” and asks residents to use 911 only for “true emergencies,” also telling residents to avoid driving and to call a tow truck company if a vehicle is stranded and not in an emergency.
Some local services are shuttering Thursday. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is closed due to ongoing flooding in the vicinity and will reopen at noon, according to an update from the airport, and Broward County Public Schools announced the district will be closed Thursday.
Observed rainfall totals in and around the Fort Lauderdale area indicate at least a 1-in-50 year rainfall event Wednesday, according to a CNN analysis of precipitation statistics from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with rainfall totals as of 9 p.m. ET Wednesday exceeding 12 inches in 24 hours.
Some places may have seen even more extreme rainfall. According to the latest flash flood emergency issued by the NWS in Miami, some areas may have received up to 20 inches of rain, which would correspond to at least a 1-in-200-year rainfall event.
Preliminary 24-hour rainfall totals indicate multiple cities and neighborhoods are being impacted. At least 11.09 inches of rain have fallen in Fort Lauderdale, 12.21 inches in Lauderhill and 13.92 inches in Dania Beach as of Wednesday night.
The flash flood emergency is in effect for central Broward County until 2 a.m. EDT Thursday.