Aerial images show Florida flood destruction

Aerial images show the destruction from a tropical storm system that hit South Florida this week as torrential rain continues to keep millions under flood watch on Friday.

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The onslaught of rain and wind Wednesday and Thursday caused massive flooding, thousands of power outages, closed roads and forced airport cancelations.

The rain hasn't stopped and won't.

Friday's hazardous weather outlook by the National Weather Service warns of more scattered thunderstorms, potentially dumping one to three inches of rain.

While it might not be as bad as previous days, it's still a serious threat.

"It can add insult to injury," NWS meteorologist Sammy Hadi told Newsweek.

Winds are expected to hit 40 to 45 mph, and there's a moderate risk of dangerous rip currents along all central Florida Atlantic beaches. The storm's focus will be around the Florida Keys, with more bad weather into the weekend.

"Heavy rainfall could lead to localized flooding," said Hadi, urging people to avoid driving through floodwaters and walking through standing water, which can hide dangerous debris.

Hadi warned "always swim near a lifeguard, and never swim alone," as the storm continues to rage on.

The Environmental Defense Fund emphasized the importance of Florida's new flood law, highlighting the ongoing struggles residents face with these intense weather conditions.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law at the end of May that requires home sellers to disclose significant details about their property's flooding risks during the selling process.

While the bill does not require the seller to disclose the home's past flood damage, it does include information about filed insurance claims and whether federal assistance was provided.

The legislation will take effect on Oct. 1, 2024.

"At least 1.3 of FL properties are predicted to face a severe risk of flooding in the next 30 years," the organization posted.

Days of massive rain

Videos on social media show damage after the tropical disturbance Wednesday.

Southern Florida saw a rare flash flood emergency, as the storm brought up to 18 inches of rains in some parts.

Hadi said the storm was associated with one that was being tracked in the Gulf. It has since moved to the Atlantic Ocean. He added that the event created "significant flooding across several areas."

North Miami through Hallandale were the hardest hit, Hadi told Newsweek.

Roads were flooded. Routes were blocked, and some people were forced to abandon their cars.

"This is the most shocking footage I've seen from the Florida Rain Bomb," Leon Simons posted to X, formerly known as Twitter.

Hadi told Newsweek neighborhoods saw between a foot to two feet of rain that in many cases is still standing.

The National Weather Service's Miami office said on X that parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties were seeing "life-threatening flooding with widespread road closures & impacts to homes/businesses."

The mayors in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Aventura declared a state of emergency for their cities Wednesday afternoon.

"This unprecedented storm has unleashed over 11 inches of rainfall in Aventura today, posing significant challenges to our community," Aventura officials said in a statement posted on X.

DeSantis also declared a state of emergency for five counties: Broward, Miami-Dade, Collier, Lee and Sarasota.

Interstate 95 closed as well.

One post showed people water skiing and paddling down the roads as they appear more like a lake than a driving pass.