Streets and airport closed as flash flooding causes ‘life-threatening situation’

Drivers were stuck in cars, travelers were stranded at the airport, streets were impassable, a fire station was evacuated and a man was spotted swimming through a downtown Fort Lauderdale street Wednesday afternoon as South Florida continued to be soaked by a three-day downpour.

As much as 20 inches of rain had poured down on Broward County by late Wednesday night, and more is possible, the National Weather Service Miami said. A flash flood emergency was extended into early Thursday morning for Fort Lauderdale, Lauderhill, Hollywood, Dania Beach and Sunrise, a “life-threatening situation” in which people should seek higher ground.

Coastal and metropolitan areas of Broward and Miami-Dade counties were under a flood watch for much of the afternoon and evening, while parts of central and southern Broward were under a flash flood warning into the late night, according to the weather service. Tornado warnings were issued for parts of Broward County about 3 p.m. and about 10 p.m.

“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,” the weather service’s warning said.

Broward Sheriff's deputies direct traffic away from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, which has closed to all flights and traffic until further notice, on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

The sun should start to creep back out starting Thursday, National Weather Service Miami meteorologist George Rizzuto said, when the highest chances of rain will be in northern Broward and Palm Beach counties before drier air will move in Friday and Saturday.

Flash flooding brought Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to a standstill. The airport closed to all flights and traffic until further notice. Entrance and exit roads to the airport were “impassable,” officials said in a tweet, leaving travelers stranded. Status of flights can be reviewed with your airline or by using a flight tracker.

Nearly 200 flights at the Fort Lauderdale airport were cancelled Wednesday and more than 130 were delayed, according to FlightAware.

There were unconfirmed reports of a tornado touching down in Dania Beach near the airport about 10 p.m. Meteorologist Ana Torres-Vazquez said late Wednesday the National Weather Service Miami was working to verify the reports.

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Chief Steve Gollan said the southern part of the city by the airport and up to Broward Boulevard significantly flooded.

The calls firefighters responded to by Wednesday evening were largely drivers whose cars stalled out in too-deep water, requiring first responders to pick them up in high-water vehicles, Gollan said.

Firefighters were taking stranded people to higher ground, but they weren’t able to move their cars, Gollan said. Tow trucks will retrieve them later.

“There’s cars everywhere,” Gollan said.

Less than 2,000 power outages in Broward and Miami-Dade County were reported by Florida Power & Light Wednesday evening.

Gollan urged that everyone stay home Wednesday night and avoid Fort Lauderdale’s streets.

“Tonight is a good night to stay home with your loved ones and stay off the roads,” he said.

Traffic to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is rerouted, and the airport is closed to all flights and traffic until further notice on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Water seeped into the Broward Sheriff’s Fire Rescue station near the airport in the 3400 block of Southwest Fourth Avenue, forcing first responders to evacuate with their equipment, Battalion Chief Michael Kane said in a text message. Kane said the evacuation would not cause any delayed responses to emergencies.

The tunnel in downtown Fort Lauderdale was closed, along with parts of Southeast 17th Street as drivers became stuck on the road, said City Manager Greg Chavarria.

The weather service warned to expect flash flooding in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Davie, Plantation, Sunrise, Hallandale Beach, Lauderhill and Dania Beach.

A video shared on social media by Fort Lauderdale attorney Adam Horowitz showed a man swimming in deep water downtown on Broward Boulevard as cars drove by during rush-hour traffic, making small waves.

A man dives into the flood waters on Broward Boulevard in downtown Fort Lauderdale for a quick swim. Courtesy of Adam Horowitz. (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

In Hollywood, a Florida Power & Light pole that powers the traffic light near Dixie Highway and Van Buren Street collapsed because of the severe weather, Broward County Emergency Management officials said in a tweet. A crash with a Brightline train and a truck hauling cars in Hollywood caused Brightline to suspend its services from Fort Lauderdale to Miami late into the night.

[ OTHER NEWS: Brightline suspends service between Miami and Fort Lauderdale after crash with truck hauling cars ]

Fort Lauderdale, Dania Beach, Hollywood, Hacienda, Pembroke Pines and Miramar were under tornado warnings for part of Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Nova Southeastern University put out an alert on the Fort Lauderdale-Davie campus to take shelter immediately. An all clear was given about 4 p.m.

After several days of torrential rain, cars plow through a flooded 14th Avenue in Hollywood on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

The highest totals between Monday and Wednesday mornings in Broward were recorded in Pembroke Pines, with 5.2 inches of rain. Davie and Plantation both recorded over 4 inches.

Areas of Miami-Dade County have significantly flooded over the past few days, requiring additional temporary pumps to be added to permanent pumps at several intersections throughout the City of Miami, city officials said in a tweet. Earlier in the week, Miami Police officials said the majority of Overtown was flooded after just one day of rain.

Cutler Ridge in Miami-Dade saw the highest total rainfall between Monday and Wednesday for the South Florida region overall, at over 6.3 inches.

Palm Beach County was spared from the brunt of the deluge, with Boynton Beach recording the most rain in the county between Monday and Wednesday mornings at 1.4 inches.

All of South Florida’s coast is at high risk of hazardous or life-threatening rip currents through Friday morning, according to the weather service.

The chance of showers and thunderstorms will drop to 50% Thursday night and Friday morning before dropping again to 20% Friday night through Saturday night, according to the forecast.

A man stops to take pictures of his flooded neighborhood along Southwest Third Street and Southwest Fourth Avenue in Dania Beach on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)