South Florida Braces for More Rain

A waterlogged South Florida awoke on Thursday to a warning from forecasters that soaking showers and thunderstorms over parts of the region would raise the risk of flash flooding from late in the morning through the afternoon, following days of heavy rain that have already caused major travel disruptions and flooded roads and homes.

Floridians at the southern tip of the peninsula braced for the third consecutive day of tropical downpours, as a line of storms was once again expected to stretch from the west coast to the east coast of the state. Forecasters said there was potential for higher-end rainfall totals, with four to eight inches of additional rain likely and some locations potentially receiving over 10 inches of rain on Thursday.

Exactly where the heaviest rain will fall is unknown, but it will take only a little to exacerbate the ongoing flooding, warned forecasters, particularly in rural and urban locations that have already seen rain.

Flood conditions were not expected to worsen early Thursday, but the next wave of rain will likely return by late morning and early afternoon.

Heavy rainfall on Wednesday caused flash flooding from Fort Lauderdale to downtown Miami, battering major urban areas and shuttering roads, including part of the Interstate 95. The severity of the weather prompted Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida to declare a state of emergency in Broward, Collier, Lee, Miami-Dade and Sarasota counties.

The floodwaters have swamped shopping strips, submerged cars and left residents in some neighborhoods wading waist-deep through the deluge. School officials in Parkland, Fla., also postponed plans to begin demolishing Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where a former student killed 17 people in 2018, because of the weather.

A daily record of nine and a half inches of rainfall was set in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, breaking a previous record of almost five and a half inches that had stood since 1978. In two days, more than a foot of rain fell from the sky over Miami Beach, with 13.64 inches being reported.

Other 48-hour rain totals have almost doubled that amount, with North Miami unofficially receiving 20 inches and Hallandale and Hollywood each receiving 19 inches since Tuesday. All eclipsed the average rainfall of 10 and a half inches for June in the Miami area.

There were no reports of injuries or deaths as of Thursday morning, but flood watches were still in place through Friday for parts of the state, the National Weather Service warned.

Travelers on Thursday were still experiencing disruptions. More than 400 flights to or from Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport were either canceled or delayed on Thursday, according to Flight Aware. American Airlines had canceled more than 150 flights to and from the airport in Miami, about a quarter of its planned trips there for the day. Officials in several places, including Fort Lauderdale, have urged residents to avoid driving while water levels remain high.

Niraj Chokshi contributed reporting.