Fort Lauderdale’s struggle through an exceptionally dry summer has turned around in rapid fashion over the last few weeks.
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Rainfall totals at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport this month signal a sudden shift away from drought, with September quickly becoming one of the wettest months on record.
Four days this month have produced at least 2 inches of rain, while measurable rainfall has been recorded on 16 of the last 20 days.
As a result, September’s accumulation has climbed to 17.14 inches. That’s more than double the city’s September average of 8.02 inches.
As it stands on Monday, with several days remaining, September has already become Fort Lauderdale’s wettest calendar month since the historic flooding of April 2023. That month produced 31.22 inches, according to National Weather Service records.
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This month’s running total still falls behind June 1999’s monthly total of 21.99 inches and May 2003’s total of 17.84 inches.
Recording more than 17 inches of rain in September without a tropical system directly impacting the area is impressive on its own. Doing so after a summer that began with June producing just one inch of rain makes the turnaround even more impressive.
With several days remaining this month and additional opportunities for high-end rainfall, September’s final total could climb considerably higher — both in accumulation and in historical rankings.
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