In the last two days, Florida has experienced significant rainfall, prompting Governor Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency in Broward, Collier, Lee, Miami-Dade, and Sarasota counties. Additionally, the mayors of Miami-Dade, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale have also declared state of emergency.
As a result, public schools, courts, and Dania Beach’s city hall have been closed, with emergency services conducting at least 40 rescues in the area. Rail services in Miami and surrounding regions were suspended due to the flooding, which followed an unprecedented 380mm (15 inches) of rain over two days in several southern Florida cities. North Miami recorded the highest rainfall, exceeding 500mm due to intense thunderstorms.
In Sarasota, a single storm on Tuesday evening brought nearly 100mm of rain in just one hour, setting a new record for the area, according to David Parkinson, the senior weather producer at CBS News.
Meanwhile, the Spanish island of Mallorca experienced severe flooding after an unusual storm on Tuesday left thousands stranded and grounded planes at Palma airport. The airport, which closed due to over 50mm of rain falling in three hours, saw water cascading from the ceilings in its shopping area and cars struggling in the flooded car park. The airport resumed operations later that evening once the rain subsided.
In New Zealand, the North Island has been experiencing unseasonably warm weather, with Hastings recording the country’s highest ever June temperature of 25.7°C (78.2°F) on Monday. This temperature also set a record for the North Island’s warmest winter temperature, covering the June to August period. The unusual warmth is attributed to a warm air mass from the Coral Sea combined with a north-westerly airflow, creating the foehn effect, which warmed the air as it descended from higher terrain into Hawke’s Bay.
The extreme weather patterns observed in Florida, Spain, and New Zealand underscore the unpredictable nature of global climate events and their far-reaching impacts.
In Florida, residents are grappling with the aftermath of the intense flooding. Emergency services remain on high alert, and local authorities are coordinating efforts to provide relief and ensure public safety.
