Sat | Jul 4, 2026

Heavy rain hits Florida, flooding strands Miami vehicles

Published:Saturday | June 4, 2022 | 5:23 PM
A driver climbs out of his stalled car after he tried to move it to higher ground from the flooded parking lot at the Beachwalk at Sheridan Apartments in Dania Beach, Florida on Saturday, June 4, 2022. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Parts of South Florida were experiencing road flooding from heavy rain and wind Saturday as the storm system that battered Mexico moves across the state.

Officials in Miami warned drivers about road conditions as many cars were stuck on flooded streets.

“This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation. Travelling during these conditions is not recommended. It's better to wait. Turn around, don't drown,” the city of Miami tweeted.

The city was towing stranded vehicles from flooder roadways.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm once known as Agatha in the Pacific Ocean will be known as Alex in the Atlantic Ocean basin, if it reaches tropical storm status.

At 2 p.m., the storm was centred about 15 miles south-southwest of Fort Pierce, Florida.

It was moving northeast at 18 miles per hour.

A tropical storm warning was in effect along the state's east coast south of the Volusia-Brevard County line to Jupiter Inlet and the northwestern Bahamas.

A tropical storm watch was in effect for Bermuda. Maximum sustained winds were clocked near 40 miles per hour with higher gusts.

The storm is expected to reach tropical storm strength off Florida's eastern coast by Saturday night and is expected to strengthen through Monday as it moves away from Florida and into the Atlantic Ocean.

In Cuba, the storm killed three people, damaged dozens of homes in Havana and cut off electricity in some areas, according to authorities.

Heavy rainfall continued on Saturday but was diminishing as the weather system moved away from the island.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said most government services, such as bus routes and trains, planned to operate as normal over the weekend.

Canal levels in South Florida have been lowered to minimise flooding from heavy rains.

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