Fort Lauderdale, a city in South Florida, experienced the rainiest day in its history on Wednesday, April 12th, 2023. The National Weather Service office in Miami reported that the region recorded widespread rainfall totals of more than a foot, while Fort Lauderdale tallied 25.91 inches in a 24-hour period, making it a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall event. The event caused a flash flood emergency in Broward County, prompting emergency rescues, forcing drivers to abandon cars, shutting down schools, and causing the airport to close through 9 a.m. on Friday, April 14th. The rain also caused two weak tornadoes to hit Broward County, both of which were short-lived and rated EF-0, the weakest category.
The heavy rainfall caused severe flooding in multiple areas of Fort Lauderdale, with many roadways being impassable and vehicles getting stuck and abandoned in the middle of the roadways. Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue received over 900 calls for service during overnight flooding, and about 600 people were taken to shelters. Emergency crews worked continuously overnight, responding to rescue calls across South Florida.
Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for Broward County, and several state agencies and emergency resources were deployed to assist with the flood situation. City crews in Hollywood, Florida, were also working to deploy pumps wherever possible and keep drains clear to minimize flooding.
Extreme rainfall is a significant consequence of a warming climate, and it is happening more frequently. The deluge in South Florida is just the latest instance after 1 in 1000 year rains struck over the past year in areas including Dallas, St. Louis, eastern Kentucky, and Yellowstone. The deluge is the most severe flooding that Mayor Josh Levy has ever seen, who has lived in South Florida his whole life. City officials are asking neighbors to be patient as flooding conditions remain impactful in the southern areas of the city. They expect the flooding to subside through the next few hours and have seen improvements in certain areas of downtown.
In conclusion, the record-breaking rainfall event in Fort Lauderdale has caused severe flooding, prompting emergency rescues, school closures, and the closure of the airport. The event is an example of extreme rainfall that is happening more frequently as a consequence of climate change. The city and state agencies are working tirelessly to help those affected and minimize the impact of the flooding.
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