Fort Lauderdale Airport Flood: What Happened?

On April 13, 2023, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, experienced a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall event, causing the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to shut down. The airport, which closed on Wednesday evening, remained shut down until Friday morning due to debris and massive flooding on its runways, with water levels reaching up to two feet. The unprecedented storm, which brought historic rainfall to the region, resulted in widespread flooding, stranded travellers, and a state of emergency being declared in Broward County, which includes Fort Lauderdale.

The airport closed due to over 2 feet of rain in under 24 hours

On April 13, 2023, a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall event occurred in South Florida, causing Fort Lauderdale Airport to shut down. The airport, officially known as Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, closed on Wednesday evening due to flash flooding and tornado warnings. Over 25 inches of rain fell in a 24-hour period, with the heaviest downpours occurring on Wednesday afternoon and evening. This unprecedented amount of rainfall caused widespread flooding in the area, including at the airport, where runways were covered in water and debris.

The National Weather Service reported that 25.91 inches of rain fell at the airport, breaking the previous 24-hour rainfall record of 14.59 inches set in 1979. The intense storm overwhelmed the airport's airfields and nearby roads, making travel to and from the airport dangerous or impossible. The flooding was severe enough to affect airport operations for almost two days, causing the cancellation of more than 650 flights.

On Thursday, airport officials worked to drain the water and clear debris, with the upper-level roadway opened temporarily to allow stranded travellers to leave. The airport remained closed to flights on Thursday, and officials announced that operations would not resume until Friday morning at the earliest. This allowed time for inspections and for the water to recede, although the airport was still affected by flooding and debris on Friday morning.

The City of Fort Lauderdale declared a state of emergency as flooding persisted in many areas, and crews worked through the night to respond to rescue calls. While there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths, two firefighters suffered minor injuries from an electrical shock during rescue efforts. The storm and resulting floods caused significant disruption, with residents requiring assistance to evacuate their homes and travellers stranded at the closed airport.

Fort Lauderdale declared a state of emergency

On April 13, 2023, Fort Lauderdale declared a state of emergency after experiencing a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall event that brought historic flooding to the region. The city received upwards of 2 feet (60 centimeters) of rain in a matter of hours, causing widespread flooding, including at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The airport, which closed on the evening of Wednesday, April 12, remained shut down until Friday morning due to debris and water on the runways.

The storm that caused the flooding was the result of a combination of a slow-moving warm frontal boundary, a deepening low-pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico, and deep moisture in the atmosphere. This led to an unprecedented amount of rain, with the National Weather Service reporting 25.91 inches of rainfall at the airport in a 24-hour period—a new record. The previous 24-hour rain record for Fort Lauderdale was 14.59 inches, set in 1979.

The flooding in Fort Lauderdale had significant impacts on the community. Residents in the Edgewood neighborhood, for example, reported water levels that were up to 2 feet deep on Friday morning, as they worked to clean up and recover from the flood. The city's public works crews focused their efforts on three key areas: ensuring the operation of critical infrastructure, clearing roadways and arteries, and neighborhoods. Additionally, a Red Cross emergency shelter was opened, reaching 80% capacity by Saturday.

The airport closures also had a notable impact on travel plans. With Fort Lauderdale Airport serving as a key transit point for passengers from nearby cruise terminals, the flooding's effects extended beyond just those flying into and out of the airport. Airlines were forced to cancel more than 650 flights, and even after the airport reopened, operations were still affected for some passengers.

Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for Broward County, which includes Fort Lauderdale, on Thursday, April 13, advising residents in flooded areas to stay away from the waters. Thankfully, despite the severity of the flooding, there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths, and firefighters and other emergency services worked tirelessly to respond to rescue calls.

The airport reopened on Friday morning

On Friday morning, the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport reopened after being closed for almost two days due to unprecedented flooding. The airport shut down on Wednesday evening when a storm dumped more than two feet of rain in under 24 hours, causing widespread flooding in the area. The National Weather Service reported that nearly 26 inches of rain fell in the region in a 24-hour period, breaking previous records.

The airport resumed operations at 9 a.m. on Friday, after final inspections were completed at sunrise. By the afternoon, airport operations were gradually returning to normal, but the impact of the closure was still being felt by some passengers. The flooding had also disrupted travel plans for those using the airport as a transit point from nearby cruise terminals.

During the closure, airport workers attempted to restore partial operations on one runway on Thursday, but the airport remained shut down due to the extent of the flooding and the presence of debris. The water had receded enough by early Thursday morning to allow people to drive on the upper-level roadway to pick up stranded passengers, but the lower-level arrivals road remained closed.

The flooding in Fort Lauderdale was a result of a rare combination of meteorological factors, including a slow-moving warm frontal boundary, a low-pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico, and deep atmospheric moisture. The city declared a state of emergency, and Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for Broward County, which includes Fort Lauderdale. Despite the severity of the flooding, there were no reported deaths or injuries, and the city quickly began the recovery process.

The flooding disrupted travel plans

On April 13, 2023, a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall event occurred in South Florida, bringing record-breaking rainfall to the region. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was shut down on Wednesday evening as a storm dumped more than two feet of rain in under 24 hours. The rainfall caused widespread flooding, with the National Weather Service reporting that nearly 26 inches of rain fell in the area in a 24-hour period. This unprecedented amount of rain led to the closure of the airport, which remained shut down until Friday morning.

The flooding had a significant impact on travel plans, disrupting the springtime travel of many individuals. With the airport being a key transit point for passengers from nearby cruise terminals, the ripple effects of the flooding were felt beyond just those travelling by air. The closure of the airport resulted in the cancellation of more than 650 flights, stranding travellers and causing delays.

In addition to the airport closure, the flooding also affected the surrounding roads and infrastructure. The tunnel carrying U.S. Route 1 under a river and a major street in downtown Fort Lauderdale was closed, along with some ramps to Interstate 95. This made it even more challenging for people to navigate the area and find alternative travel routes.

The clean-up and recovery efforts began as soon as the rain subsided, with crews working through the night to attend to rescue calls and clear the roadways. While the airport reopened on Friday morning, the impact of the flooding continued to be felt, with airport operations slowly returning to normal. Some travellers found themselves still affected by the disruption a couple of days after the event, highlighting the prolonged nature of travel disruptions caused by the flooding.

The flooding in Fort Lauderdale serves as a reminder of the significant impact that extreme weather events can have on travel and infrastructure. It also underscores the importance of preparedness, resilience, and timely response in mitigating the effects of such events on communities and travellers alike.

The rainfall broke records

On April 13, 2023, a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall event occurred in South Florida, bringing historic rainfall to the region. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport recorded a staggering 25.91 inches of rain in a 24-hour period, according to the National Weather Service. This figure broke the previous 24-hour rainfall record of 14.59 inches set in 1979. The airport was forced to shut down on Wednesday evening due to the flash flooding, with flights not resuming until Friday morning. The heavy rainfall inundated roads, impeding travel to the airport and leaving travellers stranded.

The storm that caused the flooding dumped more than two feet of rain in under 24 hours, an unprecedented amount that caught residents and officials off guard. The City of Fort Lauderdale issued a state of emergency as flooding persisted in various areas. The National Weather Service's flash flood emergency advisory for southern Florida included multiple exclamation marks, a rare occurrence that highlighted the severity of the situation. The rainfall and flooding were a result of a combination of factors, including a slow-moving warm frontal boundary, a deepening low-pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico, and deep moisture in the atmosphere.

The impact of the rainfall extended beyond the airport, with residents in neighbourhoods like Edgewood dealing with floodwaters that reached up to two feet in depth. The South Florida Wildlife Center, located just yards from the airport, was also underwater. The cleanup and recovery efforts lasted well beyond the initial flooding, with residents like Noah Kahn having to leave their homes for nearly a year while undergoing rebuilding and repairs. The Red Cross opened an emergency shelter that quickly reached 80% capacity, underscoring the significant disruption caused by the record-breaking rainfall and flooding.

The rainfall and subsequent flooding had a significant impact on travel plans, with the airport serving as a key transit point for passengers from nearby cruise terminals. Airlines were forced to cancel more than 650 flights, and the airport worked to restore partial operations on one runway by Thursday. The flooding also affected the ground floor of Fort Lauderdale City Hall, which remained closed on Thursday due to flooding and a lack of power. The region's infrastructure, including roadways and tunnels, was significantly impacted, requiring the attention of public works crews to ensure critical operations and clear passage for residents.

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