Broward County Public Schools will be closed Thursday, spokesperson John Sullivan said late Wednesday night.
Classes and after-school activities are cancelled, and the school district offices will be closed, Broward Schools said in a tweet about 11:30 p.m.
Three days of nonstop rain has caused major flooding across the county, with over 20 inches falling in just six hours alone in the Fort Lauderdale area on Wednesday. A flash flood emergency was extended into early Thursday morning for Fort Lauderdale, Lauderhill, Hollywood, Dania Beach and Sunrise, a “life-threatening situation” in which people should seek higher ground.
The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport will remain closed to all flights and traffic until at least noon Thursday. The Henry E. Kinney Tunnel in downtown Fort Lauderdale is also closed.
Drivers whose cars stalled in deep waters needed to be rescued throughout the Fort Lauderdale area, Chief Steve Gollan said Wednesday evening, with severe flooding in the southern part of the city. Videos shared on social media showed cars abandoned on flooded streets, with some nearly entirely submerged.
Officials have not decided whether schools will be closed Friday. Updates will be posted on the School District website, on social media and through ParentLink, Sullivan said in a news release.
Sun Sentinel staff writer Scott Travis contributed to this report.
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