BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher
UPDATE: 4:33 a.m. Thursday: The airport will remain CLOSED until at least noon today. Passengers trapped in the airport for much of yesterday afternoon and evening were permitted to leave overnight. A record 20-inches of rain fell near the airport, flooding roads.
BROWARD COUNTY, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2023 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International airport is closed as of just after 6 p.m. Wednesday due to flooding. Some weather gauges suggest at least a foot of rain has fallen in parts of Fort Lauderdale.
While airports are closed for various reasons for often short periods of time, this may be the first time Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International airport has been completely closed due to a rain event. This is not a delay where planes are sitting on the runway. This is an order from the airport to not attempt to enter — or leave — the airport grounds.
Airport officials via Twitter announced that “FLL is closed to flights and roadway traffic until further notice due to the ongoing heavy rainfall and flooding on the entrance and exit roadways. Again, please do not try to enter or leave FLL at this time.”
Miami International and Palm Beach International Airports are operating as expected — although there are flight delays. It is unclear when the closure will be lifted at FLL. Check back for updates.
