Heavy Rains In South Florida Cause Flight Delays, Threaten Horses

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Heavy rains overnight Sunday into Monday morning caused Fort-Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport to shut down for a time, snarled traffic around the airport and threatened horses at Gulfstream Park.

Airport officials urged travelers to allow extra time for delays, but even that didn't help some stranded passengers.

Officials reported a total of 123 flight delays and six cancellations as of Monday morning stemming from the heavy rains and flooding. Passengers were being advised to check with their airlines for the latest flight status.

By late afternoon, those numbers dropped to 382 flight delays and eight cancellations due to bad weather around the U.S.

WFOR-TV reported that the area around the airport received more than 6 inches of rain overnight into Monday morning. The station said that Monday afternoon is expected to remain overcast with the possibility of a few more showers.

The National Weather Service called the overnight rain totals "incredible" and reported that some locations experienced more than a foot of rain.

In Hallandale Beach, which is also in Broward County, Gulfstream Park reported that an estimated 12 inches of rain fell. Helicopter news video showed a person traveling in a canoe on Gulfstream property.

"There are no injuries reported to horses, backstretch workers or customers," park officials said in a statement released Monday morning. "Horses in areas partially flooded have been moved to our newer barns on higher ground."

Park officials said the horses were given fresh bedding and food.

"Water is starting to recede and pumps are being used to clear the areas partially flooded," according to the statement.

The next races at Gulfstream Park are scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

In Sunny Isles Beach, which is part of Miami-Dade County, the heavy rains caused a sidewalk and fence along a canal sea wall to buckle and give way outside the Arlen House Condominiums.