South Florida could see continued flooding impacts this week
South Florida could see continued flooding impacts this week, particularly in areas that are “already saturated” from “rounds of heavy rainfall,” according to the National Weather Service Forecast Office Miami-South Florida.
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“Localized urban flooding” is especially likely across metro Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, according to the NWS, “where soils remain saturated from daily rounds of showers and storms.”
Showers and thunderstorms are most likely to result in “widespread rainfall totals” of two to six inches through next Monday. There is a one in 10 chance of rainfall amounts of six to 15 inches “along the east coast of South Florida through next Monday.”
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Safety tips for flooding
During a flood event, you should stay away from floodwaters, according to Miami-Dade County.
It takes 6 inches of swiftly moving water to sweep a person off their feet, 12 inches of rushing water to carry away a small car and two feet to carry away “most vehicles.”
Water can also be deeper than it appears, “hiding all kinds of hazards that could hurt you or disable your car,” like debris, sharp objects, downed power lines and “even dangerous wildlife.”
The NWS recommends knowing alternate routes for travel “should roadways become flooded” and moving valuables and vehicles from low-lying areas and those prone to flooding.
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Safety tips for lightning
There is no completely safe place outdoors during a thunderstorm, according to Miami-Dade County, but, if caught outside, you should avoid trees, stay away from metal objects and “never seek shelter in a partially enclosed structure.”
If you can “see lightning or hear thunder, you are already in danger.” You should count the seconds between the lightning flash and the following sound of thunder – if it’s less than 30 seconds, you should take cover immediately, and stay in your safe spot for at least 30 minutes after the last “rumble of thunder.”
The safest place to take cover from lightning is inside a fully enclosed building with a roof, walls and a floor.
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Sarah Perkel is a South Florida Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network’s Florida Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: South Florida could see continued flooding impacts this week
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Reporting by Sarah Perkel, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY
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This story was originally published September 21, 2026 at 11:07 AM.
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