Flood watch in effect all day as ‘significant rainfall’ continues to soak South Florida

Howard Cohen
·6 min read

And rain fell on Florida for three days and three nights ...

Perhaps not the biblical 40 — yet, it seems — but another full day of soaking rains and thunderstorms is in store for South Florida Wednesday, prompting the National Weather Service in Miami to issue another flood watch.

The flood watch runs 10 a.m. through 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 16, for much of South Florida, including coastal Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and Collier counties. Also far south and inland Miami-Dade, Broward and Collier, mainland Florida Keys and metro areas of Miami-Dade and Broward.

According to the weather service, “significant rainfall may aggravate already saturated grounds. Slow-moving showers and thunderstorms could result in wide spread flooding.”

Meteorologist’s message: “Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads.”

Brian McNoldy, senior researcher for the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science said that 3.74 inches of rain fell Tuesday — the 15th rainiest day he’s observed in his over nine years of recording observations.

“A daily total like that has an average return period of about seven months,” he said on Twitter Wednesday morning.

Rain chances are up to 70% into Wednesday evening, according to the weather service and local meteorologists.

Heading to Orlando?

Much of the state is dealing with unsettled weather.

Orlando, for instance, could see another round of storms Wednesday, mostly southeast of Orlando, according to the weather service’s hazardous weather outlook for the region. Flooding is possible, as are wind gusts up to 60 mph. Small hail and brief tornadoes, mainly along and south of Cape Canaveral, can’t be ruled out, according to the service.

These rains could drop 1 to 3 inches in a 60 to 90 minute period. “This may cause travel delays as driving becomes more challenging,” meteorologists said.

Tracking a disturbance

Need more proof the rainy season’s upon us? The National Hurricane Center is tracking a disturbance near the Bay of Campeche off the coast of Mexico that could steer toward Northwest Florida later this week — possibly as a tropical depression. The system could drop up to 7 inches of rain wherever it lands.

The disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico has a 70% chance of formation in the next 48 hours and a 90% chance of formation through the next five days, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico has a 70% chance of formation in the next 48 hours and a 90% chance of formation through the next five days, according to the National Hurricane Center.

A soggy start to the week

The work week started soggy in South Florida, with strong wind gusts approaching 75 mph in Broward and, on Monday, the driver of a rented Nissan Rogue had a shocking moment on Interstate 75 around mile marker 30.5 when a rogue lightning bolt zapped the car’s antenna and also gouged a seven-foot-long, four-inch-wide stripe in the pavement, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

It continued Tuesday with vicious early-afternoon downpours across much of Miami-Dade bringing flood warnings.

Wicked.

National Weather Service in Miami meteorologist Robert Garcia told the Miami Herald more severe weather could be on tap into the week as the “unsettled pattern is going to continue.”

On Tuesday, that prediction hadn’t changed.

Flood advisory issued

Sure enough, a flood advisory was issued around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday by the National Weather Service, running through 4:45 p.m.

The alert came as up to two inches fell on areas including Miami, Miami Beach, Hialeah, Miami Lakes, Coral Gables, South Miami, Miami Gardens, Kendall, Virginia Key, North Miami and North Miami Beach, Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Doral, Sweetwater, Surfside, Opa-locka, Miami Springs, Miami Shores and Miramar.

A flash flood warning was also issued until 5:15 p.m. for a smaller area, which includes Aventura, Miami Gardens Miami Lakes, Doral, Miami Springs, Hialeah and Miami Shores.

For flash floods, authorities say to move immediately to higher ground and avoid walking or driving through flood waters.

Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms — a 70% afternoon chance after the morning’s respite — fell by mid-day and the warnings suggested some of these storms could contain strong winds topping 45 mph, along with the heavy downpours and small hail. Waterspouts, too.

One such deluge, with wind gusts around 45 mph, moved through Hialeah Tuesday afternoon, with a severe weather alert issued for the area through 2:30 p.m., reported WSVN meteorologist Vivian Gonzalez.

That wet forecast with an improved weekend applies to most of Florida’s east coast, as well as Bradenton, according to NWS meteorologists. The Keys also will share the weather pattern, with isolated thunderstorms possible through Monday.

Bradenton adds a dangerous rip current alert for Pinellas and coastal Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties through 11 p.m. Tuesday.

When is it going to dry out?

Can you wait to Friday?

By Thursday night’s slight chance of showers, Friday eyes a mostly dry 20% storm chance. Saturday and Sunday will remain cloudy, but rain chances are 20%-30% and storms shouldn’t be as popping as on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the weather service.

NBC6 meteorologist Adam Berg goes along with that forecast, adding that temperatures will heat up again once the rain tapers, hitting the low 90s Saturday through Monday.

“But we will have a subtle beach breeze to take the edge off ... a little,” Berg tweeted ... enticingly.

Miami Herald Reporter Devoun Cetoute contributed to this report.