South Florida has seen three days of intense rain and flooding. When will it finally end?

Grethel Aguila, Howard Cohen, Devoun Cetoute, Omar Rodríguez Ortiz
Updated ·2 min read
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A truck drives through flooding in Little Haiti during a rain storm on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Miami.

After a swampy day in South Florida, fret not; there are brighter days ahead.

At least, the predicted deluge shouldn’t be as catastrophic as Wednesday. Flooding rains have drenched Miami-Dade, Broward and parts of the Keys since Easter Sunday. Downpours from Monday to Wednesday have led to flood, wind, tornado and high-surf advisories.

“After a pretty dry stretch, a quiet stretch throughout much of the dry season, now we’re having this pattern,” said Sammy Hadi, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami.

Streets all over Miami-Dade and Broward were inundated Wednesday to the point of being impassable. Parts of southern Broward and northern Miami-Dade were under a tornado warning. And flash-flood warnings abound — from Kendall, Miami and Coral Gables to Sunrise, Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale.

“With the soil already being wet it’s not going to take much [to flood], especially in the drainage areas that don’t drain that easy,” Hadi said.

READ MORE: Rain is falling and streets are flooding in Miami. See for yourself what it looks like

Then things got worse for travelers, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport halted all flights Wednesday afternoon as windy conditions and a deluge of rainfall continue pounding South Florida. The main roadways entering and exiting the airport are flooded and impassable. Airport operations will restart once the weather improves in the Fort Lauderdale area.

Early estimates from NWS Miami suggest South Florida saw six inches of rain in two days. The highest total was 6.35 inches in Cutler Ridge, with the western edge of Miami second at 5.91 inches. South Broward saw a maximum of 5.20 inches in Pembroke Pines and 4.93 inches in Davie.

NWS Miami puts rain chances at 50% for Thursday, with potential for flooding remaining. Rain chances drop to 30% on Thursday night and hold there through Friday.

So far, Saturday is predicted to be a sunny day, though not for long as the rain is set to return on Sunday with a 30% chance.

Going outside? Be prepared

With the torrential downpours, it’s also important to exercise an abundance of caution. Miami-Dade has been installing temporary dams around pump stations in vulnerable areas, draining the wastewater system to maximize storage capacity and increasing staff at all wastewater-treatment plants to manage heavier flows, according to a Tuesday news release.

The county, however, needs help from the public. Here’s what it recommends to stay safe:

▪ Turn around, don’t drown: It is never safe to drive or walk into flood waters, around road barriers or large puddles. Hidden debris under the surface could hurt you or disable your car.

▪ Help minimize impacts to the wastewater system: Keep manhole covers closed and decrease water use in the morning and evening, which are the heaviest usage times.

▪ Prepare your business and home for flooding: Pay close attention if you are in a low-lying area or near a body of water. Even a very small stream can overflow and create flooding.