How wet will it get? South Florida is under a flood watch — and what that could mean
READ MORE
Tropical weather in South Florida
How Florida will be affected by a tropical system heading to the state from the Gulf of Mexico.
Expand All
Parts of Miami-Dade and Broward counties on Friday were put under flood advisories, with all of South Florida also under a flood watch and tropical storm warning due to an approaching disturbance.
By Saturday night, forecasters no longer expected the disturbance to turn into the first named storm of the season, but they still predict the region will see four to eight inches of rain, with some isolated areas possibly seeing up to 12 inches of rain.
In Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, the flood watch is in effect through Sunday morning.
In the Keys, a flood watch is in effect through Saturday night for the island chain, including Key West, Marathon and Key Largo.
What is a flood watch? How is it different from a flood warning and a flood advisory?
A flood watch means flooding could occur. If the watch were to be upgraded to a warning, it would mean that flooding is occurring or will soon happen and that people need to be cautious and alert for potential dangers.
Parts of Miami-Dade and Broward on Friday were also put under flood advisories, which means that while flooding is expected, it won’t be bad enough for a warning to be issued, according to the National Weather Service. However, you still need to be careful while out on the road during minor flooding as it could lead to situations that “threaten life and/or property,” such as dangerous driving conditions.
READ MORE: When will the worst weather get to South Florida? How much rain and how much wind?
What parts of Miami-Dade and Broward are under flood advisories?
For parts of Miami-Dade and Broward, a flood advisory was put in effect until 6:15 p.m.
Affected areas included: Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Davie, Deerfield Beach, Surfside, Miami Gardens, North Miami and Aventura.
The National Weather Service in Miami issued the advisory around 3 p.m. and said that one to two inches of rain had fallen so far in these areas within the past hour, and more was expected.
“If the rainfall amounts increase more than forecast, then a Flash Flood Warning may be needed for this area,” the weather service notes in the advisory. A flash flood is when water levels rapidly rise because of heavy rainfall. Slower or larger moving storms can also lead to longer term flooding for several days.
The weather service earlier in the day had issued flood advisories for other parts of Miami-Dade, including Kendall, Hialeah, Coral Gables, Doral, Sweetwater. Those advisories ended in the early afternoon.
READ NEXT: Should you put up shutters? Move your car? Need sandbags? How to get ready for storm
What’s the storm surge forecast? What about the flash flood risk?
The storm’s biggest threat to South Florida will be flash flooding from heavy rain, according to the National Weather Service.
Florida’s west coast could see up to three feet of storm surge, according to the National Hurricane Center. The Florida Keys, Dry Tortugas and Card Sound Bridge to North Miami Beach, including Biscayne Bay, could see up to two feet of storm surge.
South Florida has a moderate risk (about a 40% chance) of flash flooding Friday through Saturday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center.
What should I do if I am in a flooded area or driving to one?
Your safest option is to stay indoors until the flooding recedes. However, if you need to drive to work or are trying to go home, do not attempt to drive through flooded roads. If you come across a flooded road, turn around and find a different route. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles, according to the weather service.
You should also not be attempting to walk or swim in flooded roads.
“Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles,” the weather service stated in the advisory.
READ MORE: When will the worst weather get to South Florida? How much rain and how much wind?
This story was originally published June 3, 2022 at 12:04 PM.
