MIAMI, FLORIDA – South Florida is reeling from a state of emergency as relentless rainfall has inundated the region with more than a foot of water in recent days. The deluge has transformed the streets into scenes reminiscent of a “zombie movie” and prompted a rare advisory from the National Weather Service as the rain continues to fall on Friday.

Residents of Miami are facing the aftermath of the downpours, with tow truck driver Ted Rico describing the chaos on the streets as abandoned cars littering sidewalks, medians, and roads with no lights on. The situation has been escalating each year, according to Rico, a lifelong Miami resident who has been assisting in clearing the flooded streets.

The National Weather Service issued a “high risk” warning of excessive rainfall earlier this week due to oversaturated soils from the ongoing precipitation, creating the potential for flash floods and an additional 10 inches of rain in certain areas. This warning is the first of its kind since 2022, when a similar advisory was issued.

Although the risk level has been downgraded to moderate by Friday, the threat of substantial damage and flooding persists. The NWS has cautioned that continuous rainfall could lead to significant urban flooding across South Florida throughout the day, with a flood watch remaining in effect until the evening.

With approximately 20 inches of rain already recorded in some regions and another 2 to 4 inches forecasted for Friday, the total rainfall could reach unprecedented levels. Meteorologist Alex DaSilva noted that Florida’s wet season typically peaks in June but acknowledged the unusual intensity of the recent rain events.

The downpour has been attributed to two weather systems drawing moisture from the Caribbean, combined with a stalled front across Florida amplifying the precipitation. The impact of the heavy rain and flooding has resulted in street closures and even a rare “1-in-1,000-year event” in Sarasota, highlighting the potential dangers as the Atlantic hurricane season begins.

Forecasters predict an “extremely active” hurricane season with up to 25 named storms, 13 hurricanes, and four to seven major hurricanes of category 3 or higher. The implications of these forecasts stress the importance of preparedness and vigilance as South Florida navigates the challenges posed by the ongoing rainfall and the looming threat of more severe weather events.