Heavy Rain Floods Roads, Buildings In Miami

MIAMI, FL — Widespread flooding was reported Monday afternoon in Miami, Miami Beach and elsewhere in South Florida. The National Weather Service extended a flood watch for the region through 8 a.m. Tuesday.

For the short term, a flash flood warning for Northern Miami-Dade County was expected to remain in effect through 8:30 p.m. Monday. Some locations weather officials said may experience flooding included Miami, Hialeah, Miami Beach, Surfside and Hallandale.

The National Weather Service said up to 3 inches of rain fell over the area within one hour Monday afternoon.

In Miami, street flooding was reported around 3:20 p.m. Monday on Biscayne Boulevard.

Around 3 p.m., water was reportedly seeping into stores in the 1400 block of Alton, at 13th Street.

At the intersection of Brickell Avenue and Southeast 13th Street, cars were seen driving through high water.

Miami police confirmed flash flooding along and east of Biscayne Boulevard, from 15th street to 27th street. An off-duty weather service employee reported flooding was impacting vehicle travel, and was entering structures near Alton Road and 13th street in Miami Beach.

"This amount of rainfall will take some time to drain away from the region, and flooding remains a threat around canals and streams, highways, streets, and underpasses as well as other drainage areas and low lying spots," the weather service said.

Drivers were encouraged to "turn around, don't drown," and to report flooding to their local law enforcement agency but only if it was safe to do so.

"Another area of heavy rainfall over South Central Miami-Dade County could work northeast into the warning area that could cause the flooding to be exasperated," the weather service said. "Therefore, the Flash Flooding continues for Northern Miami-Dade County."

In addition to flooding, gusty winds, brief tornadoes and waterspouts over local waters were possible in South Florida during this weather event, forecasters say.

Areas of South Florida within the flood watch were: Coastal Broward, Coastal Collier, Coastal Miami-Dade, Coastal Palm Beach, Far South Miami-Dade, Inland Broward, Inland Collier, Inland Miami-Dade, Inland Palm Beach, Mainland Monroe, Metro Broward, Metro Miami-Dade, and Metro Palm Beach.

"Additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms will produce an average of 3 to 5 inches of rainfall across the watch area with locally higher amounts possible," weather officials said.

"Impact: Torrential rainfall may produce flooding of poor drainage areas in urban locations as well as small creeks, streams, and canals."