Flooding threatens areas of Broward and Miami-Dade counties

Heavy rains are once again bringing flooding to areas in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

Most of the heavy rain in Broward and Miami-Dade has ended. There is still a chance for more downpour later tonight and an even higher chance during the day, Friday. Palm Beach County is still experiencing some rainfall.

A Street Flood Watch for all of metropolitan Broward and Miami-Dade issued by the National Weather Service has been extended until 8 p.m., Friday.

A new Street Flood Advisory was issued for Collier County until 8:30 p.m., Thursday.

A Street Flood Warning is also in effect for the Kendall area. Specifically, south of Sunset Drive in Miami-Dade all the way through Southwest 184th Street and from Southwest 97th Avenue to the east almost reaching Krome Avenue to the west. This warning was extended until 8 p.m., Thursday.

Southwest 117th Avenue and Southwest 128th Street in Kendall experienced some flooding earlier, but the roads have cleared significantly.

“It’s just been pouring all day,” said a resident. “Once it’s finished, the water has been up to my knees. That’s how high it’s gotten.”

Drone video over Northwest Miami-Dade showed roads also flooded along Northwest 173rd Drive and Northwest 74th Avenue.

Some drivers’ cars have stalled out due to the high levels of water. Officials advise against driving through these flooded streets as the exact depth is unknown, and drivers are also pushing the water onto people’s property.

“The water was almost to here,” said Rodriguez as he pointed to his knee. “When I came to help them get the car out.”

They also advised against anyone playing in the contaminated waters as children were seen doing so.

“They see the water, but they don’t imagine it’s too deep,” said Osnil Rodriguez, a Kendall resident.

Rodriguez’s brother had to be rescued by a tow truck after he got stuck trying to drive through a flooded street at Southwest 112th Avenue and 126th Street.

“My brother is scared,” said Rodriguez. “He gets scared because he thought he didn’t have a car anymore.”

Another resident pushed her gardener to safety using her boat.

“He couldn’t swim. He was scared, so I got my boat from the lake in the back and put him in it,” said Sylvie Ritts.

She pushed the boat with her gardener for more than 30 minutes.

“He said, ‘Don’t leave me,'” said Ritts. “He kept telling me not to leave him.”

Officials said this is just the beginning and are encouraging drivers not to risk it and try not to drive through it.

“A lot of people thought they could go through it and can’t,” said Ritts.

Officials said to expect heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms through Friday evening, as well.

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