Almost a foot of heavy rain in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and subsequent flash flooding disrupted town and compelled the closure of its airport for a number of hours Wednesday afternoon and in a single day.
Vacationers had been left stranded on the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Int’l Airport (FLL), together with on roadways across the airport, for a number of hours after “heavy rain and windy circumstances” pressured the ability to “briefly” halt all arriving and departing flight exercise shortly after 3 p.m.
In a follow-up message, the Fort Lauderdale airport introduced it might stay closed in a single day till midday on Thursday, April 13.
“The airport’s roadways are nonetheless closed and impacted by flooding,” FLL mentioned in a press release. “Whereas stalled automobiles are being faraway from the higher/decrease ranges, the primary exit artery stays flooded and congested with slow-moving site visitors. We ask on your endurance as we wait to securely assess the impacts of this unprecedented rainfall to revive airport operations when it’s secure to take action.”
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A flash flood emergency remained in impact by way of the day for the Fort Lauderdale, Lauderhill, Hollywood, Dania Seashore and Dawn areas.
“Police and Fireplace Rescue proceed to reply requires service,” town of Fort Lauderdale mentioned in a press release Wednesday night. “Public Works employees are clearing drains and working pumps to mitigate the water as rapidly as attainable.”
Broward faculties additionally canceled courses and after-school actions Thursday, the Solar-Sentinel reported.
The Nationwide Climate Service Miami mentioned greater than 20 inches of rain poured down on town in simply six hours Wednesday.
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The closures on the airport began earlier within the day when it introduced a “non permanent” closure. By 4 p.m., the airport mentioned it might stay closed as the primary roadways coming into and exiting the ability had been “flooded and impassable.”
“Please don’t try to enter or go away the airport presently,” FLL cautioned. Later that very same afternoon, the airport once more warned vacationers to not “attempt to enter or go away.”
By 6 p.m., FLL mentioned it might stay “closed to flights and roadway site visitors till additional discover.”
Photographs and movies of the flooding on-line present a whole bunch of automobiles stalled on the roadways across the airport.
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Different areas within the metropolis had been additionally closed because the rain continued pouring by way of the night time.
Wilton Manors Police Division and different businesses have urged drivers to keep away from flooded areas.
Rain is predicted to proceed Thursday and thunderstorms are forecast for Friday.
The Related Press contributed to this report.