On November 16, 2023, South Florida was hit by a major non-tropical storm, resulting in significant damage and disruption across the region. The storm brought heavy to extreme rainfall, causing life-threatening flash flooding and power outages. Over 125,000 homes and businesses were left without power, with Miami-Dade County accounting for more than half of the outages.
The North Pole Christmas tree farm in Juno Beach was among the areas that experienced significant damage, with tents being toppled and trees needing to be disposed of. A boat sank in the Intracoastal Waterway in Boynton Beach, and another came loose near the Jensen Beach Causeway. In Lake Park, a large palm tree fell, blocking part of the road. Strong winds also knocked over tables, chairs, and umbrellas outside a BurgerFi restaurant in west Delray Beach, causing a power outage in the plaza.
In addition to the physical damage, the storm also caused significant disruption to daily life. Broward County Public Schools and Broward College in Fort Lauderdale were closed due to safety concerns. Numerous flights were delayed due to flooded streets and roadways. Florida Power and Light reported over 30,000 power outages in Palm Beach County.
The National Weather Service issued a High Wind Warning for coastal Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. Over 7 million people were under flood watches and warnings, with rainfall rates reaching 1 to 2 inches per hour in some areas. Large swells were observed along the coast in Delray Beach.
This event comes after a 1-in-1,000-year rain event led to the rainiest day on record in Fort Lauderdale earlier this year. Studies indicate that climate change is increasing the frequency and magnitude of such extreme precipitation events.