Almost a foot of heavy rain in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and subsequent flash flooding disrupted the town and compelled the closure of its airport for a number of hours Wednesday afternoon and in a single day.
Vacationers had been left stranded on the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Int’l Airport (FLL), together with on roadways across the airport, for a number of hours after “heavy rain and windy situations” compelled the ability to “briefly” halt all arriving and departing flight exercise shortly after 3 p.m.
In a follow-up message, the Fort Lauderdale airport introduced it might stay closed in a single day till midday on Thursday, April 13.
“The airport’s roadways are nonetheless closed and impacted by flooding,” FLL mentioned in an announcement. “Whereas stalled autos are being faraway from the higher/decrease ranges, the primary exit artery stays flooded and congested with slow-moving visitors. We ask to your persistence as we wait to securely assess the impacts of this unprecedented rainfall to revive airport operations when it’s secure to take action.”
FLORIDA WALLOPED BY HEAVY RAIN, FLOODING AS FORT LAUDERDALE CANCELS FLIGHTS: ‘LIFE THREATENING SITUATION’
A person stops to take photos of his flooded neighborhood alongside SW third Avenue and SW 4th Ave in Dania Seaside, Fla., on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (Carline Jean/South Florida Solar-Sentinel by way of AP)
A flash flood emergency remained in impact by way of the day for the Fort Lauderdale, Lauderhill, Hollywood, Dania Seaside and Dawn areas.
“Police and Fireplace Rescue proceed to reply requires service,” the town of Fort Lauderdale mentioned in an announcement Wednesday night. “Public Works workers are clearing drains and working pumps to mitigate the water as rapidly as potential.”
A bunch of individuals in raincoats stroll east alongside Hollywood Blvd. within the pouring rain on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Hollywood, Fla. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Solar-Sentinel by way of AP)
Exit 2 off of the MacArthur Causeway floods over the street and onto the sidewalk throughout a rainstorm, Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Miami. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald by way of AP)
Broward colleges additionally canceled courses and after-school actions Thursday, the Solar-Sentinel reported.
The Nationwide Climate Service Miami mentioned greater than 20 inches of rain poured down on the town in simply six hours Wednesday.
A faculty crossing guard helps individuals cross the road within the pouring rain at Dania Elementary College Wednesday, April 12, 2023 in Dania, Fla. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Solar-Sentinel by way of AP)
Vehicles undergo the flooded street trigger by heavy rains at North Bay Rd and 179th Dr. in Sunny Isles Seaside, Fla., Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (David Santiago/Miami Herald by way of AP)
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The closures on the airport began earlier within the day when it introduced a “short-term” closure. By 4 p.m., the airport mentioned it might stay closed as the primary roadways getting into and exiting the ability had been “flooded and impassable.”
“Please don’t try and enter or go away the airport right now,” FLL cautioned. Later that very same afternoon, the airport once more warned vacationers to not “attempt to enter or go away.”
A haze units over the town throughout a rainstorm, Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Miami. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald by way of AP)
Fort Lauderdale Hollywood Worldwide Airport closed April 12 and can reopen at midday on April 13. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Solar-Sentinel/Tribune Information Service by way of Getty Photographs)
By 6 p.m., FLL mentioned it might stay “closed to flights and roadway visitors till additional discover.”
Photographs and movies of the flooding on-line present a whole lot of autos stalled on the roadways across the airport.
A Hollywood seaside is empty throughout heavy, Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Hollywood, Fla. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Solar-Sentinel by way of AP)
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Different areas within the metropolis had been additionally closed because the rain continued pouring by way of the night time.
A tow truck goes by way of the flooded street trigger by heavy rains at North Bay Rd and 179th Dr. in Sunny Isles Seaside, Fla., Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (David Santiago/Miami Herald by way of AP)
A truck drives by way of flooding in Little Haiti throughout a rainstorm, Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Miami. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald by way of AP)
Wilton Manors Police Division and different businesses have urged drivers to keep away from flooded areas.
Rain is predicted to proceed Thursday and thunderstorms are forecast for Friday.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
