On November 9, Drew Bartlett, Executive Director for the South Florida Water Management District, noted in a YouTube video that the SFWMD had lowered the canal levels in anticipation of significant rainfall, and indeed, some parts of Broward County saw up to 18 inches of rain. Bartlett also noted that the standing water levels we saw are normal during these types of storms.
According to Scientific American, Eta is the 28th named storm of the 2020 hurricane season, which ties the record set back in 2005. It was also, luckily for us, the first storm that brought “high winds, torrential rain and flooding to Florida this year.”
NBC6 reported that some parts of Broward County received over a foot of rain in 48 hours; some areas, such as Southwest Ranches, received an astonishing 18 inches of rainfall in that timespan.
Throughout the county, trucks equipped with giant vacuums were dispatched to remove water from the already-waterlogged streets.
“Rainfall Records Demolished”
The National Weather Service tweeted that “Fort Lauderdale, Miami, & Palm Beach have demolished their normal annual rainfall totals & we still have almost 2 MONTHS to go.” To date, Fort Lauderdale’s annual rainfall is 24 inches above normal, beating the previous record set in 1947.
Luckily, Tropical Storm Theta, the record-breaking 29th storm of the season, poses no threat to Florida. And, at least for the moment, there are no additional tropical disturbances brewing.
We’re Almost Out of the Woods – Hopefully
Remember, hurricane season is almost over (it officially ends on November 30), but there have been rare occasions when storms have formed after that date. Read more from the Tamarac Post about the history of storms, and how to be prepared, in “How Did We Get Here? Hurricanes, Disaster Preparedness, and the Deadliest Tropical Cyclone in History.”
To report concerns about standing water, call the City’s Public Services Department at 954-597-3750; after hours, call 954-597-3775.
