The National Weather Service in Miami issued a flash flood warning for the northeast of Palm Beach County this Sunday at 5:23 p.m. Eastern Time, valid until 7:15 p.m. the same day.
The notice, identified by the official code KMFL.FF.W.0007, is based on data from Doppler radar and automatic rain gauges that recorded between 2.5 and 3.5 inches of rain already accumulated in the area at the time of its issuance.
The weather agency projected an additional rainfall rate of 1.5 to 2 inches within an hour, with another 1 to 2 inches possible afterward. According to the bulletin, flash flooding was either ongoing or could begin immediately.
Thunderstorms pose the primary threat to streams and small waterways, urban areas, roads, streets, underpasses, and low-lying areas or those with poor drainage.
The areas included within the warning polygon comprise West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Riviera Beach, North Palm Beach, Lake Park, Haverhill, Cloud Lake, Port of Palm Beach, Golden Lakes, Lake Belvedere Estates, Royal Palm Estates, President Donald J. Trump International Airport, Downtown West Palm Beach, Gun Club Estates, Mangonia Park, Glen Ridge, Lakeside Green, and Cypress Lakes.
The bulletin does not report any airport closures, flight interruptions, evacuations, or specific blocked roads. The inclusion of the airport in the affected area is solely due to its geographical location within the warned zone.
This warning is distinct and independent from the regional flood watch that the NWS had in effect since morning for Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach until Monday afternoon. While the watch warns of favorable conditions for flooding, the warning indicates that the phenomenon is occurring or imminent and requires immediate action.
It should not be confused with the alert issued that same Sunday by the NWS in Melbourne for the southeast of Okeechobee County, where flooding left sections of SR 70 and US 441 impassable and water entered structures. These impacts correspond to a completely separate event and do not apply to the northeast of Palm Beach.
The episode occurs with the soil in the region already saturated after weeks of repeated rainfall and exceptionally high tides in South Florida since mid-October, which reduces drainage capacity and accelerates surface water accumulation.
In addition, this Sunday marked the start of daylight saving time in Florida, which advances sunset by about an hour and reduces visibility for drivers in the rain as evening falls.
The NWS safety message is clear: "Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded streets. Most flood-related deaths occur inside vehicles."
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