Torrential rains pounded South Florida as officials warned residents to beware of "life threatening flooding" in some of the state's most populous regions. The National Weather Service in Miami urged residents to stay indoors, off the roads and away from dangerous moving waters.
HDN Newsroom
Flood warnings for parts of four South Florida counties, including Miami-Dade, will continue until 8 a.m. Thursday.
The downpour is complicating air travel in and out of the region. Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport told would-be travelers that its entrances and exits were flooded.
As of Wednesday evening, 284 flights out of or into that airport had been canceled. At Miami International Airport, the number of cancellations was a combined 326, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware.
The Florida Highway Patrol shut down part of southbound Interstate 95 in Broward County on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
First responders in Hollywood, near Fort Lauderdale, rushed to trapped motorists late Wednesday afternoon.
Gov. Ron DeSantis declared an emergency in Broward, Collier, Lee, Miami-Dade and Sarasota counties. A declaration allows for state aid. The cities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood also issued emergency declarations.
The Miami-Dade County Department of Emergency Management told residents there: "Do not drive unless absolutely necessary and seek higher ground if needed." The agency said that if vehicles stall, people inside should immediately abandon them to avoid being swept away with them.
Fort Lauderdale got over a foot of rain by late Wednesday, with 12.83 inches. Miami got 9.82 inches and Hollywood a little over 10 inches. Pompano Beach got 9.62 inches, and Fort Myers received just over 8 inches.
[Source:NBC]
