Record Rainfall and High Winds Hit Southeast Florida

Storm system not associated with tropical activity causes widespread flooding and power outages, closing schools and disrupting daily life.

Southeast Florida experienced record rainfall with a compact but potent storm system delivering 4 to 8 inches of rain across the southern part of the state, with as much as 10 to 14 inches falling just north of Miami and in parts of the northern Florida Keys.
Strong winds accompanied the rain, bringing down power lines and toppling trees, especially near the coast. More than 110,000 electricity customers were without power Thursday morning, mostly in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Flooding and other storm-related problems led to the closure of a number of schools in the area, including public schools in Broward County. Despite the cessation of heavy rainfall by sunrise Thursday, floodwaters remained high in some spots across the region.
The storm system was not associated with a tropical system and developed more like a nor'easter, which are more common in the northeastern United States.
Despite the heavy rainfall, much of Florida’s west coast has been experiencing drought. The rainfall was greatly needed in these regions, even if what fell was generally lower than the precipitation in and around the Miami region.