Staff Writer

#USA, April 17, 2023 – Over 25 inches of rain have been reported over Coastal areas in Florida due to storms gushing over the state.  Last Wednesday, April 12^th, Fort Lauderdale reported almost 30-inches of water flooding the area.

The Thursday following, Palm Beaches and the Treasure Coast area were slightly  threatened with severe storms in the afternoon and evening hours.

Fort Lauderdale was drenched in 25.95-inches of rainfall.  Daina Beaches recorded 21.41 inches.

Areas of I-95, Florida’s main north-south traffic artery were also flooded for hours.

It is alarming how quickly areas were flooded.

AccuWeather had informed, that various areas experienced as much as 20-inches of water in just as little as six-hours.

The seriousness of the level of rainfall that’s causing flooding in the state forced the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood Airport to close as well as all public schools. The high speed commuter rail service was also suspended.

The Florida rain was described as rare by Ana Torrez-Vasquez, the weather service meteorologist.

She said it was a 1 in 1,000-year event which means that it is so heavy that the chances of it happening in a given year is a mere 0.1 percent.

The most recent reports by WESH 2 meteorologists  declared Sunday a First Warning Impact day. T his means there is a possibility for stronger storms.

Today storms rained down on Central Florida with heavy rain and very strong winds which left damage in some areas.

Brevard County Fire Rescue informed that a roof was ripped off a mobile home situated in Barefoot Bay, due to the strong winds.

Fortunately, no one was left injured.  Red Cross is also helping the family.

It’s is anticipated that the coming week will see drier and less humid weather.

Staff Writer 

April 13, 2023 – As the June 1 start of the Atlantic Hurricane season nears, the names that will be used for the storms this season are making the rounds.  The names are agreed upon by the World Meteorological Organization.

Six lists of names are used in rotation every six years, and the lists which have been in use for the last 60 years are only altered when a name is removed.  Hurricane names are removed or retired when the storm associated with them is so destructive that it would be inappropriate to reuse and is done away with out of sensitivity.

Retired from the 2022 roster are Fiona and Ian, hurricanes which wrought extreme destruction across Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean including the Turks and Caicos Islands, though the country was spared any major damage.  That roster of names beginning with Alex and Bonnie  and Ending with Virginie and Walter, will be reused in 2028 (sans Fiona and Ian of course).

For 2023, the names are Arlene; Bret; Cindy; Don; Emily; Franklin; Gert; Harold; Idalia; Jose; Katia; Lee; Margot; Nigel; Ophelia; Philippe; Rina; Sean; Tammy; Vince; and Whitney.

This roster of names was last used in 2017, and due to the incredible damage and loss of lives they caused, Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate were retired from the list.  The storms decimated parts of the Caribbean including the Turks and Caicos and Costa Rica and was blamed for the deaths of more than 3,000 people.

AccuWeather has forecast, the 2023 season to be average in terms of storm frequency but residents are still urged to prepare.