Powerful storms sweep South Florida flooded roads
Man critically injured by lightning strike
Powerful thunderstorms swept across South Florida on Sunday afternoon, bringing flooding in some areas and a lightning strike that hit a man in a wheelchair in Pompano Beach.
Shortly before 2 p.m., fire rescue workers responded to the lightning strike at 2700 West Golf Blvd. in the Leisureville community of Pompano Beach. Firefighters and paramedics found a man in a wheelchair under a tree. He was unconscious and visibly burned, according to Pompano Beach Fire Rescue spokeswoman Sandra King.
People in the area told fire rescue workers they saw a flash of lightning come down on the tree during the storm. The man was taken to Broward Health North in critical condition. His identity and updates on his condition were not available Sunday evening.
Storms began easing by 6 p.m., National Weather Service radar maps showed.
A flood watch was extended and to remain in effect for Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties until 5 a.m. today. Ground soaked by heavy rains over the past two days may drain more slowly, worsening the flood risk, the National Weather Service said in an advisory issued late Sunday morning.
Flooding was reported in Hollywood just before 3 p.m., near the intersection of 56th Avenue and Sheridan Street around Sheridan Plaza. Cars on the road were forced to turn around and find alternate routes.
Rainfall of one to two inches is expected over South Florida’s metro areas Sunday. Some areas could receive up to five inches.
Meanwhile, the threat of a tropical wave east of the Caribbean has dissipated. The National Hurricane Center’s 8 p.m Sunday update said the patch of cloudy weather had no chance of organizing into something more dangerous, such as a tropical depression or storm.
Tides are running about a foot higher than expected. Minor tidal flooding took place Saturday. In addition to the direct impact of high tides, the weather service said they make it more difficult for storm sewers to function, allowing water to pile up in coastal neighborhoods.