‘Hurricane equivalent’ winds and torrential rains leave more than 120,000 without power in Florida as more than 7million are under flood watch
- Heavy rain and high winds left nearly 120,000 homes in Florida without power
- Hurricane-level winds have battered parts of South Florida, with as much as 12 inches of rain expected in some areas today
- The National Hurricane Center also outlined the possibility that the storm could develop further, but said the chances are slim
More than 120,000 people are without power in South Florida as hurricane-equivalent winds lash the state overnight.
Thousands of people could wake up Thursday in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach amid hurricane force winds, while more than 7 million people are under flood watch.
The National Weather Service has called the wind speeds in some of these areas “hurricane equivalent” as they exceed 75 miles per hour.
In an advisory they said: ‘Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Large-scale power outages are expected.”
Forecasters have said rainfall is likely to reach two to eight inches today in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas of South Florida, with some areas hit with up to a foot.
The National Weather Service has called the wind speeds in some of these areas “hurricane equivalent” as they exceed 75 miles per hour.
The National Hurricane Center has also outlined the possibility that the storm could develop, although the chance is slim: only ten percent.
A flood watch has been issued for Palm Beach County, ending later today at 1 p.m., and one for the Treasure Coast region, ending at 7 p.m.
It was also announced that schools and offices in the Broward County School District would close Thursday due to the rain.
The latest weather outlook from the National Hurricane Center says: ‘A non-tropical area of low pressure between south Florida and the northwestern Bahamas is associated with a frontal boundary.
‘Development of this system into a tropical cyclone seems unlikely.
However, parts of the east coast of Florida and the Bahamas are still possible over the next few days, while low temperatures move rapidly northeastward across the southwestern Atlantic Ocean.”
On Friday, forecasters said things will start to improve for the Sunshine State as low pressure moves out of the area.
According to Power failurethere are currently just over 118,000 homes without power in the state.
Videos of uncertain drivers driving through high tides in the state have also emerged on social media.
Images have also been shared showing the destruction caused by the storm in Miami Beach, with fallen trees and branches lining one street.
In the short clip, a large tree falls on a vehicle parked on the street, shattering the windshield.