By Khaila Gentle
MIAMI, Florida, Sun. June 6, 2022
After causing widespread flash flooding across South Florida this past weekend, Tropical Storm Alex, the first named storm of the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season, is now headed towards Bermuda. Alex, which partially emerged from the remnants of the Eastern Pacific hurricane Agatha, gained tropical storm level strength off the eastern coast of Florida late Sunday evening, but long before that, the effects of the storm proved devastating, both for residents of the USA’s “Sunshine State” and persons in parts of Cuba.
While just a tropical system at the time, Alex—then known as Potential Tropical Cyclone One—claimed at least three lives in Cuba and destroyed dozens of homes in Havana on Friday, according to reports from authorities.
In Florida, the system brought over a foot of intense rains over some areas, particularly along the east coast, along with strong winds and flash flooding. On Saturday, Miami officials cautioned the public against traveling, as several roads were rendered inaccessible due to flood waters rising to up to 12 inches.
“This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation. Traveling during these conditions is not recommended. It’s better to wait. Turn around, don’t drown,” wrote The City of Miami on Twitter.
Between Friday and Saturday, somewhere around 100 vehicles became stranded in floodwaters throughout Miami, reports CNN.
According to the Mayor of Miami Beach, Dan Gelber, the storm put the city’s drainage pumps—recently installed in response to increased flooding in the area caused by climate change—to the test. He told local reporters that, since Saturday, the flood waters have been dissipating.
Late Sunday evening, the center of Tropical Storm Alex was located some 395 miles west of Bermuda. With maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, it is expected to pass north of the island on Monday, causing up to 2 inches of rain.
While the Atlantic Hurricane Season officially began on Tuesday, June 1, the formation of Alex marks an unusually early start. Last month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published their predictions regarding this year’s hurricane season, forecasting an above-average year with at least 14 named storms.