FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - A weather system that dumped rain over much of South Florida on Sunday is expected to bring even more heavy rain to the area on Memorial Day.
While beaches remained closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, the rain will likely wash away any plans for outdoor activities for the holiday. Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Miami issued a flood watch for much of the area due to the heavy rain that fell Sunday and overnight.
The rain brought slightly cooler temperatures as well, with an expected high of just 80 degrees on Monday. Forecasters said the rain, which started early Sunday, is expected through Tuesday.
Beaches in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and across Broward County are expected to reopen to the public on Tuesday. Miami-Dade County is looking to reopen the beaches on June 1. The Florida Keys will also reopen to visitors beginning June 1.
The holiday weekend weather wasn’t a washout in other parts of the state where beaches have reopened with certain restrictions in place.
Many people flocked to those beaches on Sunday. In Pinellas County on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the sheriff’s office started turning away beachgoers after the crowds reached a capacity. And, across the state, in Volusia County, law enforcement officials dealt with large gatherings and a shooting that broke out near a convenience store. Two people taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds and four injured by shrapnel.
“We got slammed. Disney is closed, Universal is closed. Everything is closed so where did everybody come with the first warm day with 50% opening? Everybody came to the beach,” Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said at a Sunday news conference.
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