Roberta Aguirre
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was closed for almost two days in April 2023 due to unprecedented flooding in the area. The flooding was caused by a storm that dumped more than two feet of rain in under 24 hours, with the Fort Lauderdale area seeing record rainfall amounts in a matter of hours. The airport remained shut down on Thursday as crews worked through the night to clear debris and water from the runways, and travellers were stranded inside the airport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 13 April 2023 |
| Time | Wednesday evening |
| Cause | Storm |
| Rainfall | More than 2 feet |
| Rainfall range | 15 to 26 inches |
| Rainfall duration | Under 24 hours |
| Runway status | Covered with water and debris |
| Reopening time | 5 am on Friday |
| Affected flights | More than 650 flights cancelled |
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What You'll Learn
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport closed
On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, a storm dumped more than 2 feet of rain in under 24 hours in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, causing the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to shut down. The rains started on Monday, with the heaviest downpours occurring on Wednesday afternoon and evening. The airport, the second largest in the region, was forced to suspend all arriving and departing flights.
The unprecedented amount of rainfall led to widespread flooding, with water inundating roads and impeding travel to and from the airport. The flooding was so severe that a truck was seen driving on the flooded runway at the airport. The airport terminals were also affected, with travellers stranded inside the shuttered airport.
The City of Fort Lauderdale declared a state of emergency as flooding persisted in many areas, including the airport. Crews worked through the night to attend to rescue calls, and there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. The National Weather Service reported that up to 25 inches of rain fell near the airport, an unprecedented amount for the region.
The airport remained closed on Thursday as officials worked to clear the debris and water from the runways. By Friday morning, the airport had reopened, and operations slowly returned to normal. However, the closure caused significant disruptions, with airlines forced to cancel more than 650 flights. The flooding also affected the surrounding areas, with residents in neighbourhoods like Edgewood dealing with flooded homes and streets.
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Torrential rain and thunderstorms
On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, a storm brought more than 2 feet of rain to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in under 24 hours. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was forced to shut down that evening due to the extreme weather. The airport remained closed on Thursday, April 13, as crews worked to clear debris and water from the runways.
The storm caused widespread flooding in the area, with residents in the Edgewood neighborhood reporting water levels up to 2 feet deep. The city of Fort Lauderdale issued a state of emergency, and Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for Broward County, which includes Fort Lauderdale.
Thunderstorms and torrential rain impacted travel to and from the airport, with motorists trapped in floodwaters and travelers stranded inside the closed airport. The National Weather Service reported that up to 25 inches of rain fell near the airport, an unprecedented amount for the region.
The airport resumed limited operations on Friday, April 14, but it took time for operations to return to normal, and some passengers were still affected by the closure. While storms are a common occurrence in South Florida, the intensity and impact of this storm were unusual, with the airport's second-largest region experiencing suspension of all arriving and departing flights.
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State of emergency declared
On April 13, 2023, the city of Fort Lauderdale declared a state of emergency as flood conditions continued to affect many areas. This came after an unprecedented storm that dumped upward of 2 feet (60 centimeters) of rain in a matter of hours, causing widespread flooding and turning thoroughfares into rivers. The National Weather Service reported that up to 25 inches of rain fell near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, with the heaviest downpours occurring on Wednesday afternoon and evening.
The airport, the second-largest in the region, was forced to suspend all arriving and departing flights on Wednesday as torrents of water inundated roads, impeding travel to the airport. The closure lasted almost two days, causing ongoing disruptions for some passengers even after operations resumed on Friday morning. Airlines were forced to cancel more than 650 flights at the Fort Lauderdale airport on Thursday, according to FlightAware.com.
The flooding also impacted Fort Lauderdale's Edgewood neighborhood, where residents dealt with water levels up to 2 feet deep in some spots on Friday morning, a day after the storm. While some residents felt fortunate that their homes were spared from intrusion, others were not so lucky, with water gushing inside and causing damage. Crews worked through the night to attend rescue calls, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths.
In addition to the airport and residential areas, the flooding led to the closure of Fort Lauderdale City Hall due to ground-floor flooding and power loss. A tunnel carrying U.S. Route 1 under a river and a major street in downtown Fort Lauderdale was also closed, causing further disruptions. Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in Broward County, which includes Fort Lauderdale, advising residents in flooded areas to stay away from the waters.
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![Historic Framed Print, [D.C. - Wash. - Airport - flood waters around hangar and airplanes. 1923], 17-7/8" x 21-7/8"](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41VUzOkH8iL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Flooded streets and homes
On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, a storm dumped more than 2 feet of rain in under 24 hours in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, causing the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to shut down. The heavy rainfall led to unprecedented flooding in the city, with water inundating streets and homes.
The Edgewood neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale was one of the areas severely impacted by the flooding. Residents of Edgewood found themselves surrounded by water, with some reporting that it came close to entering their homes. Newlyweds Tatiana Rodriguez and her husband shared how the water rose inside their one-room rental, and they had to use cinder blocks to prop up their bed.
The floods turned thoroughfares into rivers, impeding travel to the airport and leaving travellers stranded. The airport itself experienced flooding, with water covering the runways and causing flight cancellations. The airport remained closed for inspections and clean-up, resuming operations on Friday morning.
During the flooding, residents of Fort Lauderdale faced challenges in navigating the flooded streets. Amanda Valentine, who was driving during the flash flood, described her terrifying experience of being trapped in her car as the water levels rose. Hayden Wooster, an attorney, used his large pickup truck to help residents move around, including individuals with medical devices and a family with disabled daughters.
The city of Fort Lauderdale declared a state of emergency, and Governor Ron DeSantis issued a similar declaration for Broward County. Crews worked tirelessly through the night to respond to rescue calls, and there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. The clean-up and recovery efforts continued as residents dealt with the aftermath of the flood, trying to return to their daily lives.
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Airport reopened Friday morning
The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport reopened on Friday morning, after being shut down since Wednesday evening due to unprecedented flooding in the region. The airport closed after a storm dumped more than 2 feet of rain in under 24 hours, causing widespread flooding in the area. The National Weather Service reported that up to 25 inches of rain fell near the airport, with the heaviest downpours occurring on Wednesday afternoon and evening.
The closure of the airport, the second largest in the region, led to the suspension of all arriving and departing flights. Airlines were forced to cancel more than 650 flights at the Fort Lauderdale airport on Thursday, according to FlightAware.com. The flooding was severe enough that a truck was seen driving on the flooded runway at the airport on Thursday, April 13, 2023.
On Friday morning, airport officials completed final inspections and resumed operations at 9 a.m. By the afternoon, airport operations were slowly returning to normal, but the almost two-day closure was still causing some disruptions for passengers. The water level in the Edgewood neighborhood, located near the airport, had receded about a foot from Thursday but was still up to 2 feet deep in certain spots as residents worked to clean up the flood damage.
The reopening of the airport was made possible due to the hard work of crews who worked through the night to clear debris and drain the flooded areas. The city of Fort Lauderdale had issued a state of emergency due to the flooding, and Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in Broward County, which includes Fort Lauderdale, on Thursday afternoon. The storm and subsequent flooding affected many areas of South Florida, with residents in Edgewood recounting their experiences of being surrounded by water and assisting others in evacuating from their homes.
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Frequently asked questions
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport flooded on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, and remained shut down until Friday morning.
The region received an unprecedented amount of rain, with estimates ranging from 15 to 25 to 26 inches in a matter of hours.
The flooding caused the cancellation of more than 650 flights, and the airport was closed for almost two days, affecting passengers and operations.
No, the flooding also impacted other areas of Fort Lauderdale. The city issued a state of emergency, and areas such as City Hall and a tunnel carrying U.S. Route 1 were closed due to flooding and power loss.
Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths during the flooding.
