Is Tampa Bay Prepared for Fort Lauderdale-Like Deluge
Is Tampa Bay prepared for Fort Lauderdale-like deluge. The recent epic rainfall that dumped 25 inches on Fort Lauderdale, shutting down the airport and leaving residents paddling through the streets on kayaks and canoes, was a rare occurrence. Meteorologists say it would be expected to happen only once every 1,000 years. While such an event has never happened in the Tampa Bay area, a storm that hit on May 8, 1979, dropped an estimated 18 inches of rain, leading to flooding, power outages, and tornadoes. The Tampa Bay area has grown tremendously in the last 40 years, with more roads and homes to damage. Forecasters say a storm like the one that caused chaos in Fort Lauderdale this week would lead to similar problems for Tampa Bay.
Florida’s topography, warm water, and other favorable conditions can create such a deluge, and a hurricane is one of the few instances in which forecasters could expect to see such extreme rainfall. Hurricane Ian dropped about 19 inches of rain at the Myakka River State Park, and in June 1945, a hurricane dropped about 12 inches of rain locally. In 2012, Tropical Storm Debby dropped more than 11 inches in Tarpon Springs. However, outside of a tropical storm, a number of factors have to line up just right for such a ferocious weather system to form.
As climate change continues to affect our planet, extreme weather events are becoming more common. The whole definition of normal is changing, and we are seeing more and more of these “thousand-year” weather extremes in major cities. While we cannot prevent these weather events from happening, we can prepare for them by improving our infrastructure and implementing better drainage systems. TBT
50 World Famous Stars From Florida
3 Wesley Snipes
Wesley Snipes – Born in Orlando, Florida.
“Blade” film series and “White Men Can’t Jump.”
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
6 Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz – Born in San Diego, California, but raised in Long Beach and Seal Beach, both in California.
“There’s Something About Mary” and “Charlie’s Angels” film series.
(Photo by Elisabetta Villa/Getty Images)
10 Angela Bassett
Angela Bassett – Born in New York City, but raised in Saint Petersburg, Florida.
“What’s Love Got to Do with It” and “American Horror Story.”
(Photo by Matt Petit/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images)
14 Christian Slater
Christian Slater – Born in New York City, but raised in Miami, Florida.
“Heathers” and “Mr. Robot.”
(Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)
18 Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway – Born in Bascom, Florida.
“Bonnie and Clyde” and “Network.”
(Photo by Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images)
22 Flo Rida
Flo Rida – Born in Carol City, Florida.
Rapper and singer known for hit songs such as “Low” and “Whistle.”
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
25 Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – Born in Hayward, California, but raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and then later in Davie, Florida.
“Jumanji” and “Fast and Furious” film series.
(Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images,)
28 Pitbull
Pitbull – Born in Miami, Florida.
Rapper and singer known for hit songs such as “I Know You Want Me” and “Timber.”
(Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for 103.5 KTU)
34 Patrick Wilson
Patrick Wilson – Born in Norfolk, Virginia, but raised in St. Petersburg, Florida.
“The Conjuring” and “Fargo.”
(Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images)
39 Fred Rogers
Fred Rogers – Born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, but spent much of his childhood in Jacksonville, Florida.
Host of the TV show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
43 Gloria Estefan
Gloria Estefan – Born in Havana, Cuba, but raised in Miami, Florida.
Lead vocalist for the band Miami Sound Machine and solo artist known for hits such as “Conga” and “The Rhythm is Gonna Get You.”
(Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
45 John Travolta
John Travolta – Born in Englewood, New Jersey, but raised in Englewood, New Jersey, and then later in West Englewood, New Jersey, and then later in Hillsdale, New Jersey and then later in Ocala, Florida.
“Grease,” “Saturday Night Fever,” and “Pulp Fiction.”
(Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
48 Mark Consuelos
Mark Consuelos – Born in Zaragoza, Spain, but raised in Lebanon, Illinois, and then later in Tampa, Florida.
“All My Children” and “Riverdale.”
(Photo by Maury Phillips/Getty Images for Los Angeles LGBT Center )
