The National Weather service is forecasting the possibility of 10 inches of rain in some areas of South Florida as heavy storms pummel the region today and tomorrow.
As a result, the NWS has issued a flood watch through Thursday morning, stretching from St. Lucie County south to Homestead, and includes nearly all of the populated areas of Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties.
Forecasters also project “numerous flash floods (are) likely” in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.
A wind advisory is also in effect for all coastal Atlantic areas for easterly winds of 20 to 30 mph with possible gusts to 40 mph.
Forecasts call for 3 to 4 inches in most of Palm Beach County and 6 to 8 inches in areas of eastern Broward County.
Forecasters say rain will intensify about 1 p.m. Wednesday afternoon and continue unabated until Thursday morning, and recur periodically all day Thursday.
Fort Lauderdale has emerged as the area most likely to receive the heaviest rain, and has a 98% chance of being doused with more than 4 inches of rain Wednesday and Thursday, the NWS said. The areas that might see up to 10 inches of rain in a “worst-case” scenario are just north and south of Fort Lauderdale.
There is also a risk of coastal flooding due to king tides during morning rush hour this week. “The flood watch was put out in advance because we’re in the new moon phase,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Will Redman. “There is potential for coastal flooding in general, and if we have rain on top of that it could worsen things.”
NWS
The worst case rainfall forecast for South Florida as of Wednesday morning. (NWS)
Some areas, such as South Dixie Highway south of Atlantic Boulevard in Pompano Beach, experienced significant street flooding on Tuesday evening, as early squalls dumped 3.6 inches of rain on the area.
Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport saw 4.5 inches of rain Tuesday. That early rain has saturated the ground, and could contribute to greater flood risk as more rain arrives on Wednesday.
NWS
A potential flooding map produced by the National Weather Service regarding possible flash floods on Wednesday and Thursday. (NWS)
Earlier this month, the weather service called for a relatively wet winter in South Florida, due in part to the influence of El Niño, which causes the subtropical jet stream to shift to the south, carrying moisture from the Pacific, and picking up even more moisture over the Gulf of Mexico while steering storms across the southern U.S. to us.