A Florida storm that caused flash flooding, underwater roads, mass flight cancellations, stranded cars and power outages on Wednesday is just the beginning of an active hurricane season, forecasters said.
Torrential rains hit South Florida on Tuesday and Wednesday, prompting authorities to warn the public of “life-threatening flooding” in some areas, NBC News reported. The storm marks the start of the Atlantic hurricane season — the latest start to the season since 2014, when the first storm didn’t hit until July 1, according to AccuWeather.
Despite this year’s late start, AccuWeather forecasters predicted that 2024 would be a “supercharged year for tropical systems” and expected “multiple threats” to the US, Caribbean and Central America.
In Florida, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Miami received reports of floods from Fort Lauderdale to downtown Miami. The storm dumped more than 25 centimeters of rain in some regions, To New York Times reported. AccuWeather estimated that total precipitation in some parts of Southwest Florida could reach between 18 and 24 inches.
The NWS in Miami posted in X that many regions were “flooded with water” and cars stranded, and that even more rain was on the way.
See more information: These stunning photographs capture the aftermath of Florida’s 1,000-year storm
In Hollywood, near Fort Lauderdale, drivers were trapped in their cars after driving through flooded roads, NBC South Florida reported. Photos and videos of the flood were viral on social media, with some images showing cars almost completely submerged underwater.
The NWS in Miami told the Times which did not receive any reports of injuries or deaths.
The storm also caused power outages, with Florida energy and light reporting nearly 300 outages in the area near Fort Lauderdale and Miami on Wednesday night. Both the Miami International Airport and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport said many flights were delayed or canceled because of the storm.
Meteorologists from the Weather Forecast Center told the Times that more flash flooding may continue to occur late Thursday morning and into the afternoon.
AccuWeather meteorologists warned that the Florida storm could be just the beginning. Forecasters said they were monitoring several areas — including off the southern Atlantic coast, across the Gulf of Mexico and into the eastern Pacific — throughout the rest of the month for possible tropical storms. AccuWeather said there are “currently no systems in the pipeline” but added that weather conditions could change next week.
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This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
