South Florida Staggers Under 12-Inch Rainfall
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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Schools and some roads were closed Wednesday and shelters were open after a stalled weather system dumped more than a dozen inches of rain on southern Florida.
Flood watches and warnings remained in effect for much of the southern half of the state, where it has rained almost every day this month.
Ft. Lauderdale is already nearly 27 inches over its average rainfall for the year, and Miami is nearly 24 inches beyond normal.
Four-wheel-drive vehicles used by public works employees almost floated away Tuesday, said Port St. Lucie spokeswoman Nina Baranski.
Tropical Storm Jerry dumped about 10 inches of rain on the area in August. On Tuesday, 13.25 inches of rain poured on Port St. Lucie.
Martin County declared a state of emergency, and four Red Cross shelters were opened. Three shelters were opened in neighboring Palm Beach County.
Areas of the main coastal thoroughfare A1A and Florida 76 in Martin County were impassable.
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