Miami Beach mayor asks residents to be prepared for flooding

'Rain bomb' could be trouble during high tide, mayor says

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine said Friday night he was concerned about the storms that were approaching South Florida. 

Potential Tropical Cyclone 18 was organizing in the western Caribbean and was fast approaching South Florida. It will likely bring rainfall to South Florida Saturday, and hurricane hunters were finding winds of 40 miles per hour. 

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Cuban authorities issued tropical storm warnings for the provinces of La Habana, Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara and Isla de la Juventud. Northwestern Bahamas were also under warning. 

"Even in improved areas, if we are hit with a severe rain bomb, in conjunction with the seasonal high tide, it may take longer for even improved streets to drain," Levine said in a statement. 

Levine said the city's public works crews had generators, temporary water pumps and temporary water dams. The city's storm water improvement program is still underway with only about 15 percent of it completed, Levine said. 

"Please take the necessary precautions to secure your property and stay safe in anticipation for the foul weather," Levine said in his announcement to residents. 

If the potential system becomes a tropical storm, meteorologists will name it Philippe. 

 


About the Authors:

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

Betty Davis is the chief certified meteorologist for Local 10. She provides weather forecasts for South Florida Monday-Friday during the 4, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts.