SFWMD Prepares Flood Control System to Handle Expected Rainfall - see link provided for official update from the SFWMD

Keeping you up to date. Please note - those living along the canal may see water movement increase.  This post updates you on what the SFWMD is doing to manage an expected rainfall totals as high as 4-6 inches expected in some areas. The SFWMD is preparing system by lowering water levels in the canals to handle expected stormwater.

Release: SFWMD Prepares Regional Flood Control System to Handle Expected Rainfall

Rainfall totals as high as 4-6 inches expected in some areas, SFWMD preparing system by lowering canals to handle stormwater

In preparation,  The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is working to prepare its regional flood control system to ensure flood protection as an upper level weather disturbance is expected to drop heavy rainfall across the region on Tuesday.

The weather disturbance moving in from Mexico is expected to interact with a cold front and drop an average of 1 inch of rainfall on the basins from Lake Okeechobee south, starting early Tuesday morning and diminishing by Tuesday evening. Some areas are expected to receive local maximums of 4-6 inches of rainfall on Tuesday.

Much of the region is dry due to drier conditions over the recent weeks. SFWMD is preparing the regional flood control system by drawing down canals along the east coast from Palm Beach County south to Miami-Dade County to ensure they have capacity to move stormwater runoff from local drainage districts and municipalities.

The District also held a conference call on Monday afternoon with local drainage districts that are responsible for local flood protection to share information and coordinate storm preparations. 

Flood control in South Florida is a shared responsibility between the District, which operates the regional flood control system, and local drainage districts, municipalities and homeowners associations that operate the secondary and tertiary drainage systems that move flood waters away from homes and neighborhoods. Residents throughout South Florida can report neighborhood flooding concerns by visiting the website, www.sfwmd.gov/floodcontrol and entering an address to locate their local drainage district.

This action is typical - see prior related post - September 29, 2017, SFWMD Moving Water in Anticipation of Additional Weekend Rain from Tropical Disturbance, a similar notification from the SFWMD in response to expected weekend rains.