South Florida devastation after days of heavy rainfall seen in images, movies as forecasters warn of doable ‘catastrophic’ flash flooding

Not less than two individuals have been reported lifeless in South Florida this week after staggering quantities of rain fell within the area — and forecasters are warning that the storms, and with it flash flooding, aren’t over.

The Florida Freeway Patrol mentioned two individuals died in a weather-related crash in Immokalee, about two hours west of Miami, based on CBS affiliate WINK.

The Nationwide Climate Service mentioned that “heavy to extreme rainfall might carry appreciable to domestically catastrophic urban flooding by Friday throughout South Florida.”

Meteorologists with the Weather Prediction Center are forecasting between one other 3 and 5 inches of rain on Friday, and a flood watch is in effect by Friday night.

Nonetheless, Sammy Hadi, a Nationwide Climate Service meteorologist in Miami, instructed the Related Press, “The worst flooding threat was the final three days,” and that the “heaviest rainfall has concluded.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday declared a state of emergency for Broward, Collier, Lee, Miami-Dade and Sarasota counties.

Many components of Southern Florida have already been hit with over 2 ft of rain over the past a number of days. Miami Shores, situated in Miami-Dade County, has seen over 21 inches of rain thus far.

Hurricane season simply began on the East Coast, and as much as 25 named storms are forecast for the area. Though stormy climate is regular for this time of yr, AccuWeather hurricane forecaster Alex DaSilva nonetheless thinks the downpour is odd.

“What’s uncommon is how a lot rain South Florida has seen in such a brief time frame,” he mentioned.