Bizarre Rainstorm at Ft. Lauderdale Airport: Floods and Chaos
A severe rainstorm hit Ft. Lauderdale, causing over two feet of rain to fall within 24 hours and leading to flash floods throughout the city. The Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was not spared from the storm, and the damage was severe.
Dramatic Footage from the Airport
Videos shared by locals and weather enthusiasts showed the extent of the flooding. A video from @weatheradventurerdude showed a plane moving through the floodwaters on the airport tarmac, while TikToker @christianndiordior captured the disastrous scene at the airport’s drop-off zone from a window.
Take a look at the ongoing Flash Flooding in Fort Lauderdale, FL and at Hollywood International Airport this evening! Almost a foot of rain has covered the runway and tarmac! #florida #flwx #flooding #flood #fortlauderdale #hollywoodfl #floridaflood
Unprecedented Rainfall
The rainfall was completely unprecedented, with a month’s worth of rain falling over Ft. Lauderdale in just one day. The 25 inches of rain within 24 hours is typically more than what falls during a high-grade hurricane in the same time frame. According to meteorologist Ana Torres-Vasquez, it was a “1 in 1,000 year event, or greater.”
Airport Shut Down
As a result of the damage caused by the flooding, the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was shut down until at least 5 am Friday. The airport’s departure lanes were opened to allow stranded passengers to leave, but the true extent of the flood damage in and around Ft. Lauderdale will not be fully apparent until the waters have receded. For now, the area remains under a state of emergency.
Stay Safe and Alert
The freak rainstorm is a reminder of the unpredictable and dangerous nature of extreme weather. If you’re in an area prone to flooding, take precautions to stay safe and evacuate if necessary. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and stay alert for any updates or emergency alerts from local authorities.