Zoo Miami Shut Down as Major Flooding Drowns South Florida

Historic flooding shut down the Miami, Florida zoo on Monday and caused major issues through the weekend and into the early part of the work week, and more rain is expected across the hard-hit region on Tuesday.

The Zoo has been closed since 11pm Saturday, when flooding affected Zoo Miami and caused walkways and animal cages to overflow. As of Monday evening, there was no word on whether or not the zoo would reopen on Tuesday. Miami has received 8.56″ of rainfall since December 1, more than four times the city’s entire monthly average of just 2.04″. Tropical downpours led to even heavier amounts near the zoo’s location in southwest Miami. This is typically the dry season for Florida’s Atlantic coast, and while heavy rainfall is common during the summer and fall months.

Significant flooding in Kendall and Homestead, both southwest of central Miami, was also reported over the weekend, according to The Miami Herald.

A stationary front, a pattern more typical in October or early November rather than early December, is responsible for the unusually heavy rainfall totals. The rain stays in Miami and southeast Florida through Tuesday, but by early Wednesday the front is finally expected to move offshore and clear things out for the area by mid week, but not before more localized downpours threaten to inundate the region with more flooding.

For WeatherNation: Meteorologist Chris Bianchi
(Images: Zoo Miami)

Update

We would like to thank everyone for your concern and let you know that all our animals are safe and not in any danger. …

Posted by Zoo Miami on Monday, December 7, 2015