When the roads to FLL flood: what travelers ran into on September 18

November 14, 2026

CrosswindBay is an independent site. This post recaps public news reporting, linked below. It is not an official statement from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Broward County or any agency. For official information, check the airport’s own website and your airline.

South Florida rain does not always stay politely in the gutters. On Friday afternoon, September 18, 2026, heavy rain and severe storms caused flooding near the entrances and exits of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), and travelers paid for it in time and missed flights.

What was reported

According to WSVN 7News:

• Flooding and standing water near the airport’s entrances and exits led to widespread gridlock. Airport officials told the station that the flooding and standing water were a significant factor in the backup.
• Heavy congestion on Perimeter Road and Federal Highway disrupted travel to the passenger terminals, and bumper-to-bumper traffic blocked access ramps.
• Some passengers got out of their cars and walked along Perimeter Road and up the access ramps with their luggage to reach the terminals.
• Some travelers missed their flights, and some were rebooked to the next day.
• Leaving was slow too. One traveler told the station it took about an hour and a half just to get out of the parking garage; another, waiting on the garage’s eighth floor, estimated 200 to 300 cars in line.
• Flights were affected. Citing FlightAware, WSVN reported flight delays of more than an hour on Friday afternoon.
• Officials advised people picking up or dropping off passengers to call their airline to check flight status before heading to the airport.
• The rain flooded streets across Broward County that afternoon, not just around the airport.

Getting to any airport on a flooded day

These tips apply anywhere heavy rain is in the forecast:

1. Watch the forecast the day before. If afternoon storms are likely, consider an earlier departure to the airport, or an earlier flight.
2. Check your flight status before you leave, and again on the way.
3. Leave much earlier than usual. Traffic, not the flight, is often what makes people miss the plane on storm days.
4. Turn around, don’t drown. Never drive into standing or moving water. You cannot tell how deep it is or what is under it, and moving water can carry a car off the road faster than you would expect.
5. Have a plan B for the ride. Rideshare, a drop-off by a friend, or a train or shuttle may move differently than the garage lines.
6. Tell your airline early if you are going to be late. Options are better before the door closes than after.
7. Keep essentials in your carry-on in case you end up on a later flight or an unplanned night away.

You can also check current conditions before you go: type KFLL (or your airport) into the Pilot Lounge to see the latest observation and forecast. Thunderstorms show up as TS in the report, and our guides to METARs and TAFs explain how to read them.

Sources

• WSVN 7News, “Storm-induced flooding traps travelers in bumper-to-bumper traffic at FLL,” September 18, 2026: https://wsvn.com/news/local/broward/storm-induced-flooding-traps-travelers-in-bumper-to-bumper-traffic-at-fll/