‘Exceedingly rare’ flash flood emergency issued in South Florida. Catastrophic damage possible

Miami Herald ^ | June 12, 2024 | DEVOUN CETOUTE

[PJ-Comix]

Life-threatening rainfall pummeling South Florida that’s closed I-95 and caused major delays at the region’s two largest airports Wednesday is now being considered a flash flood emergency — an “exceedingly rare” circumstance classified by forecasters when catastrophic damage is imminent.

Around 3:40 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for portions of southern Broward County and northern Miami-Dade County. The emergency is in effect until 8:00 pm.

Cities under the emergency advisory: Miami Gardens, North Miami Beach, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Miramar and Dania Beach. Other urban city centers in both counties will see the greatest threat of flash flooding.

[PJ-Comix]

Yeah, I'm in the thick of it. Thankfully this morning after a lot of rain overnight I used a very short break in the heavy rains to stock up on turkey wings so I am prepared to ride out the next few days at home while being incredibly well fed. In fact, I might even upload a video I started recording on how to prepare Air Fried Bonaire Beach Club Turkey Wings. Might as well dine like a gourmet while being forced to coop up the next few days.

One YUUUUUGE upside is that Lake PJ out back was down at least 5 feet just a few days ago and the stagnant water was threatening to kill off what remaining life remained in the lake. However, just overnight the lake levels ROSE back to normal and life once again flourishes in Lake PJ with happy ducks who have been MIA for weeks frolicking in its restored waters.

[ducttape45]

I seen weather reports put out by Ryan Hall on Youtube that spoke of this possibly happening. Guess he was right.

[jjotto]

17 inches of rain fell in Hollywood and Hallandale Beach

[skr]

Glad you’re okay. Prayers for all those affected.

[fso301]

Anyone down there wishing they hadn’t let the enviro-radicals bully them into undoing the old flood control system?

[jimtorr]

17 inches, wow. I was working and living in Key West many years ago. One winter day (82 degrees......winter, right?) it rained more that 6 inches on the island, flooding all the central areas around the lake and swamp in the middle.

The next day I rode my bicycle through a foot of standing water to return a tape to the video rental.

[PJ-Comix]

Glad you’re okay.

We are lucky. Despite being in flat-as-a-board South Florida, our home is at least 6 feet higher than the homes in the surrounding neighborhood because when Lake PJ was scooped out to be deepened the dirt that was scooped out made an artificial hill surrounding the lake. And our home is on top of the artificial hill. Thus all rain here flows down an incline into Lake PJ so no matter the flooding it has to rise over 6 feet to reach us which it hasn't done so far.

[Red Badger]

We had a flood there in 79......

[Fido969]

I assume, then, you have a generator or lots of propane.

[VastRWCon]

We had a tornado here today in Hobe Sound Fl bridge road our town beach access.

[SamAdams76]

Even the West Coast of Florida is getting it.

Both Marco Island and Naples getting a foot of rain.

I think the alligators in between are liking this, as well as the Everglades mosquitoes - some of which are six inches long and can take a quarter pint of blood in one sucking.

[PJ-Comix]

Here is a pic of Lake PJ yesterday afternoon. I took the picture because it had already been raining heavily for hours and Lake PJ was rising and I wanted to document how low it was although a few days before it was actually a couple of feet lower than what you see. I hope to post the latest pic of a newly filled in Lake PJ tomorrow morning when there is enough light to demonstrate the dramatic change in Lake PJ due to the flooding.

[gundog]

Gotta love S FL. Need an overpass? Dig two big holes, and build the ramps. The holes will become lakes. One of the guys I worked with in the AF liked to dive those lakes. He found an excavator at the bottom of one of them. Also some voodoo stuff in a jar.

Watch out for walking catfish when you’re driving.

[PJ-Comix]

Lake PJ also serves as a reservoir to feed water out via gravity to irrigate the surrounding plants during the dry season. Save a lot of $$$ on the water bills.

[Brian Griffin]

“17 inches of rain fell in Hollywood and Hallandale Beach”

Flash floods can happen easily in Florida, but 17 inches is most unusual.

I’ve gotten a lot of badly needed rain in the past few days.

The rainy season started pretty much on time.

[Paladin2]

18” inches in a place 12 ft. above sea level sounds like a problem.

[rrrod]

Attaboy! I’m down the street and lake PJ is filling up!

[SecondAmendment]

Wow, stay safe South Floridians.

I grew up in Dade County (yes, before the hyphenation) and I never knew what a flash flood was until my family moved to Texas.

[PJ-Comix]

I had planned on doing a BBQ this weekend incorporating a revolutionary new method for adding smoke to the St. Louis ribs. However, I’ll have to hold off until the following weekend due to the weather. Even though I have an enclosed back porch I find it difficult to BBQ when it is raining because the moisture in the air stifles the heat generated in the BBQ. Too bad because I was anxious to test out the new method of transferring the smoke captured inside the BBQ into the meat.

[gundog]

Yeah. Key West (The Dry Tortugas) used to use metal roofing to divert rainwater into cisterns. Saved on dying of thirst. Interesting place, Florida.