Pompano Beach gauges caught up to 9.85 inches of rain in 72 hours, and at least seven cars were towed at Powerline and Copans roads. Totals and what to do now.
Up to 9.85 inches of rain fell on Pompano Beach in three days, and flash flood warnings covered the city on both Monday and Tuesday nights.
On Tuesday night, Election Day, cars stalled in water at least a foot deep near Powerline Road and Copans Road. At least seven had to be towed.
The figures come from the National Weather Service in Miami. They are in its 72-hour preliminary rainfall report, issued at 12:03 p.m. Wednesday, and its storm report on the Powerline Road flooding.
How much rain fell
Nine gauges in and around Pompano Beach recorded more than 6.5 inches in the 72 hours to Wednesday morning:
| Where the gauge is | Rain (inches) |
|---|---|
| About 2 miles north of Pompano Beach | 9.85 |
| About 2 miles west of Lighthouse Point | 9.70 |
| About 2 miles north (a second gauge) | 9.52 |
| About 2 miles south | 9.38 |
| About 1 mile northeast | 8.53 |
| About 1 mile south | 7.84 |
| About 1 mile northeast (a second gauge) | 7.45 |
| Coastal station, about 2 miles east | 6.87 |
| About 1 mile west | 6.56 |
The readings were taken between 8 a.m. and 11:40 a.m. Wednesday. The weather service labels them preliminary. Lighthouse Point is about four miles north.
West Broward got more. The highest county total was 13.49 inches, about a mile northeast of Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise. In Palm Beach County, a gauge west of Riviera Beach topped 23 inches.
Two nights of warnings
The weather service issued and extended flash flood warnings for northern Broward County, naming Pompano Beach, on two evenings in a row.
Monday, Nov. 2
- 6:56 p.m.: first warning, with radar showing 2 to 4 inches had fallen.
- 7:52 p.m.: extended, with 3 to 5 inches down.
- 8:49 p.m.: extended until 10 p.m., with 4 to 6 inches down. The warning named the Pompano Canal and the C-14 and C-15 canals among the drainages at risk.
Tuesday, Nov. 3
- 8:33 p.m.: a flood advisory for northern Broward, with 1 to 2 inches down.
- 8:57 p.m.: a flash flood warning until 11 p.m., with 2 to 3 inches down and 1 to 2 more possible.
- About 11 p.m.: vehicles stalled at Powerline and Copans roads. Nearby gauges showed more than 4 inches in three hours, the storm report said.
- 11:02 p.m.: a flood advisory until 1 a.m. Wednesday took over from the warning.
- 11:04 p.m.: the weather service ended the warning. It said the heavy rain had ended and asked people to heed remaining road closures.
No injuries were listed in the weather service’s storm reports.
As of Wednesday evening, the City of Pompano Beach had not posted a statement about the flooding on its press release page.
What comes next
The weather service’s Pompano Beach forecast on Wednesday evening called for only a slight chance of a shower early Thursday. After that, it called for sunny days with highs of 83 to 84 degrees through Saturday.
A coastal flood statement for Broward’s coast runs through 7 p.m. Thursday. It warns of isolated minor flooding on low-lying roads around high tide. The city’s next king tide window is Nov. 24-28; our king tides story explains what to expect.
What it means for you
- Never drive into water over the road. Just 12 inches of moving water can carry away most cars, the weather service’s Turn Around Don’t Drown page says. The road underneath may be damaged.
- If your car or home took water, photograph the damage before you clean up and call your insurer. Most homeowners policies do not cover flood damage; flood insurance is a separate policy, the National Flood Insurance Program’s FloodSmart site says.
- Report damage to your home to Broward County by calling 311 or 954-831-4000. Our hurricane prep page lists the county’s damage reporting link.
- Check closures before you drive. See our Pompano Beach road closures page.
Frequently asked questions
How much rain fell in Pompano Beach this week?
Rain gauges in and around Pompano Beach recorded 6.56 to 9.85 inches in the 72 hours to Wednesday morning, Nov. 4, according to preliminary reports from the National Weather Service in Miami. The highest Pompano Beach reading was 9.85 inches, about 2 miles north of the city center.
Where did cars get stuck in floodwater in Pompano Beach?
Multiple vehicles stalled near the intersection of Powerline Road and Copans Road around 11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, the weather service’s storm report said. At least seven needed towing, and the water was at least a foot deep.
Is more rain expected in Pompano Beach?
The weather service forecast for Pompano Beach issued Wednesday evening, Nov. 4, called for only a slight chance of a shower early Thursday, then sunny skies with highs of 83 to 84 degrees through Saturday.
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