Up to 6 inches of rain, if not more, could drench parts of South Florida as the region faces soggy, windy weather that’ll last through this weekend, forecasters said Thursday.
The National Weather Service says the best-case scenario for cumulative rainfall from Thursday through Saturday is 2 to 3 inches throughout metro South Florida, and a worst-case scenario could 4 to 6 inches throughout most of the region — with a pocket of 6 to 8 inches from Fort Lauderdale south into northern Miami-Dade County.
The heaviest rain would likely fall Saturday night into Sunday, said Will Redman, a meteorologist with the weather service. “Flooding potential will increase over the weekend — that’s what it looks like right now.”
The NWS issued a flood watch until 7 p.m. Thursday and a wind advisory until 7 a.m. Sunday. Forecasters are warning of east winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph throughout South Florida. Such winds could down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.
“Protect and secure Christmas decorations ahead of time from gusty wind and plenty of rain,” wrote WINK News meteorologist Matt Dewitt on X.
The NWS said Thursday that there is an “extreme risk” of high surf along the beaches of Broward and Palm Beach counties, and there is a high surf advisory until 7 a.m. Sunday for all east coast beaches. All of the watches could be extended, depending on conditions. Gale-force winds will result in seas in excess of 8 feet.
The South Florida Water Management District has lowered canal levels throughout Broward County so as to increase capacity to hold water in anticipation of heavy rainfall, and reduce the need to release water east toward Fort Lauderdale.
NWS
Best-case and worst-case scenario rainfall totals from Thursday through Saturday for South Florida. (NWS)
The Federal Aviation Administration said on X that thunderstorms in South Florida could affect airport travel in the region as well.
Relatively high morning tides this week will raise flood risks coastally, as incoming tides meet water running off of inland areas. The persistent northeast winds could also contribute to some coastal flooding, forecasters said.