Submerged neighborhoods, thousands without electricity and “the highest tide of the year”: the toll of the storm that hit Florida

Por Marlene Lenthang y Kathryn Prociv —NBC News

Heavy rains in parts of Florida have plunged neighborhoods underwater, turned roads into rivers, closed schools and left more than 108,000 customers without power.

Heavy rains fell over the center and south of the state from Wednesday until the early hours of Thursday due to a storm system that moves slowly over the Gulf of Mexico.

Up to seven million people were under flood watch on Wednesday. Meanwhile, strong onshore winds created gusts that reached 74 mph (119 kph) at an elevated weather station near Miami and 63 mph (101 kph) at Dania Pier near Fort Lauderdale.

Miami-Dade County recorded up to 9.35 inches of rain; 7.58 inches in Coral Gables and 4.90 in Miami. Meanwhile, Broward County recorded 8.30 inches in Plantation and parts of Fort Lauderdale received between 2.48 and 5.85 inches.

Radar estimates between Key Largo and the Everglades recorded a whopping 15 to 20 inches of rain.

Videos and photographs of the deluge showed cars driving on partially submerged roads, streets turned into streams of water and strong winds whipping palm trees.

Broward County public schools were closed Thursday due to inclement weather. In Miami-Dade County, the Metromover transit system was out of service Thursday, replaced by a free shuttle bus service, and all other modes of public transportation suffered delays due to extensive flooding.

The City of Fort Lauderdale reported in a 7:30 a.m. update that overnight the city experienced 4 to 8 inches of heavy rain and there were reports of power outages, mooring issues, road flooding and wind damage. wind throughout the area.

“The highest tide of the year” is expected

The city of Fort Lauderdale also warned that “the water table is near saturation, which means additional rain may not be able to drain.” At the same time, officials said they were expecting “the highest tide in the world.” year” this Thursday morning, which “could exacerbate current conditions.”

An additional 2 to 4 inches of rain is forecast this afternoon, along with possible wind gusts of up to 40 mph (64 kph). And the city indicated that a flood watch is in effect until noon Thursday.

Drivers were urged to stay off the roads as many traffic lights were out and roads were flooded or covered in debris.

As of 8:30 a.m. local time, more than 108,000 customers were without power in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, according to PowerOutage.Us.

A high wind warning was in effect Thursday morning until 1 p.m. Wind gusts of up to 60 mph (96 kph) are forecast along the coast of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. A storm warning was also in effect for Atlantic waters until 1 pm for gusts of 50 to 60 knots over the waters.

Heavy rain this week has already raised Fort Lauderdale’s annual rainfall total to more than 100 inches by Wednesday, which represents more than 40 inches above average.

This was just the second time in 111 years records that the city’s annual rainfall eclipsed the 100-inch mark. It should be noted that Fort Lauderdale was already having its wettest year on record.

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As of Thursday morning, the storm system was moving away from the Sunshine State, with most of the precipitation off the southeast coast, but gusty winds persisted.

The system was moving parallel to the Florida coast, but some tropical showers were still possible in the central and northern part of the state.

The storm was expected to brush the coast of the Carolinas on Friday, producing some spotty tropical showers and windy conditions. For On Saturday, the storm is forecast to reach the New England coastincluding Cape Cod, but significant and widespread rainfall totals were not expected.