South Florida rain and flood risk extends into next week, NWS Miami says

As of 1:04 a.m. EDT Saturday, Sept. 19, the National Weather Service Miami Area Forecast Discussion said rainfall chances remain elevated through the rest of the weekend and into next week. Scattered thunderstorms were expected Saturday. Heavy downpours from stronger showers and storms could cause localized flooding in urban and low-lying areas each day, especially where ground is already wet from this week’s rain. NWS Miami listed no Florida, Atlantic, or Gulf watches, warnings, or advisories at that issuance. CBS Miami, updated about 11:37 p.m. EDT Friday, reported Fort Lauderdale’s Victoria Park still flooded hours after Friday’s storms — pedestrians waded on Las Olas, a vehicle stalled and had to be towed, and water surrounded a parking garage. Oakland Park and Dania Beach also flooded, though water in those communities later receded.

The short-term discussion (today through Sunday) cited an upper-level low settling into the eastern Gulf, deep moisture, and weak steering flow, with scattered to numerous afternoon and early-evening showers and storms both weekend days. Mean rainfall amounts were not impressive — generally a quarter to half inch — but localized totals of several inches in a short period remain possible. Looking further out, NWS Miami said precipitation chances stay above normal (70–90 percent) through the end of the work week, and the Weather Prediction Center was maintaining a marginal risk of excessive rainfall over the metro each day through Day 5.

Western Palm Beach County and The Acreage were still dealing with Thursday’s flooding after roughly 9 inches of rain. In a Friday evening WFLX update, residents said they feared weekend storms could raise water again. Indian Trail Improvement District crews continued managing canals and drainage. The South Florida Water Management District said its regional flood-control system is operating normally and has capacity for expected weekend rainfall, and that no problems had been reported with District flood-control infrastructure.

Separately, the National Hurricane Center’s 8:00 a.m. EDT Saturday, Sept. 19, Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook monitors Eastern Subtropical Atlantic disturbance AL99 several hundred miles southwest of the western Azores. Formation chance is high — 90 percent through 48 hours and 90 percent through seven days. NHC expects a short-lived tropical depression or tropical storm to form later today or tonight while moving north-northeastward at about 5 mph, remaining well southwest of the Azores. There is no Florida tropical watch or warning.

If stormwater enters a home or business, prompt extraction and drying matter in Florida humidity. Florida Restoration Specialists serves Central Florida water damage calls — water damage restoration and water extraction — or call (863) 588-6617.

Sources: NWS Miami Area Forecast Discussion (1:04 a.m. EDT Sept. 19), NHC Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook (8:00 a.m. EDT Sept. 19), WFLX: Residents fear more flooding in The Acreage after 9 inches of rain, CBS Miami: Broward flooding, Fort Lauderdale and Las Olas (updated ~11:37 p.m. EDT Sept. 18), Local 10: South Florida under marginal flood threat through the weekend.