Heavy Rains in Fort Lauderdale Closes Airport Amid Flash Flood Warnings

Florida's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was forced to close Wednesday night after a severe storm battered the area with heavy rains, which ended up causing flash flood warnings.

Flights, both inbound and outbound, have been canceled and delayed amid the closure of the Fort Lauderdale airport, affecting several passengers. Besides the hassle it brought to the international airport, it also flooded the streets near the area, stalling numerous vehicles in the middle of the streets.

Heavy Rains in Fort Lauderdale Close Airport

As per a report by The New York Post, officials announced that the airport will be closed until 1 am, advising passengers to reschedule their flights with that in mind. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport official halted all flights shortly before 5 pm. The announcement also covers the ground transportation shuttle service in the facility, ceasing its operations temporarily.

Shutting down the airport makes a lot of sense as the exit and entrances on the facility are actually "impassable" due to the extreme flooding amid the heavy downpour.

Officials are now asking the public to refrain from driving to the airport. Some vehicles that attempted to brave the flooded streets along the way are now causing traffic congestion as some cars have been stranded.

The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport announced on Twitter that "our entrance and exit roads are still flooded and congested with vehicular traffic." Unless the " weather improves, " it discourages people from entering or leaving the airport unless the "weather improves."

Flash Flood Emergency

On top of that, the National Weather Service (NWS) Miami issued a flash flood warning in several areas, such as Fort Lauderdale, Dania Beach, and Hollywood. Furthermore, NWS told people in the area that "this is a life-threatening situation.

The New York Post, citing the Ohio Storm Center, reports that 14 inches of rain have since fallen near the airport. Because of this, some roads are now submerged by floodwater.

The Washington Post reports that the heavy rains have relatively calmed around midnight. But despite that, the NWS Miami still warns against possible flash floods in Lauderhill, Sunrise, and Fort Lauderdale. It advises residents to avoid the streets and instead goes to higher ground.

The heavy rains started pouring last Easter Sunday. Since then, advisories of tornado, flood, and wind have erupted. Forecasts predict that it will continue for the rest of the week. Potentially clearer skies will see the light of day on Saturday. As such, thunderstorms are likely to continue on Thursday and Friday. Heavy downpours might no longer affect outdoor plans over the weekend.

Videos on social media platforms show vehicles stranded in the middle of the road amid deep floods. In some cases, the floodwater reached the windows of cars.