South Florida Flooding: More Rain Forecast—Check Your Area in Maps

Southern Florida is braced for further heavy rainfall on Thursday and Friday as residents grapple with the aftermath of severe flash flooding.

A tropical storm unleashed downpours Wednesday night, leading to flash floods that blocked roads, inundated houses, and caused cars to float down streets.

While the National Weather Service (NWS) ended its flood warning for southern Florida on Thursday morning, forecasts showed more rain is expected.

“Even a small duration of heavy rainfall could lead to more flash flooding!” NWS said in a post on X on Thursday morning.

Weather forecast maps show fresh heavy rain coming from the southwest, which could cause more flooding in already-affected areas.

The NWS is regularly updating the situation on their social media profiles. While the situation appears to be stabilizing at the moment, citizens should not underestimate the risks of flash floods.

Citizens should avoid entering floodwaters on foot or in vehicles. The NWS warns drivers that 12 inches of water can easily sweep a car off the road. An additional 4-8 inches of rainfall today could push already flooded roads into double digits.

Total Traffic Miami reported on X (formerly Twitter) that the portion of I-95 closed after yesterday’s heavy rainfall has reopened but is at risk of closing again if water levels rise. Newsweek reached out to Miami Highway Patrol for verification.

The NWS is currently unable to predict which exact areas will be most affected in the next two days. Flash floods are still occurring across portions of Collier, Miami-Dade, and Broward counties. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava have declared a state of emergency in Miami-Dade County and neighboring counties. The state of emergency is expected to last seven days but could be terminated early if the situation improves.

Heavy rainfall is hitting Florida at the beginning of hurricane season. The NWS Miami branch reported that they cannot rule out a possible tornado in southern Florida and advise citizens to be prepared to shelter.

What to expect next

Meteorologists say another rainfall is expected to start later in the morning on Thursday and could continue throughout Friday and Saturday. Some roads will remain closed until the water drains. The storms are not expected to reach cyclone level. The National Hurricane Center evaluated the risk at 20 percent, which is considered low.

NBC reported severe disruptions at both Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, with almost 200 canceled flights. Severe flooding also affected trains to and from Miami, suspending service between Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

Early next week, the National Hurricane Center expects a tropical storm to form in the Gulf of Mexico. So far, meteorologists predict it should move west or southwest.

The NWS is warning citizens against going into the water. There is a risk of debris lying unseen.