Wettest September on record, and more rain in the forecast
Plus: register to vote by Monday, Oct. 5, and new beach-event limits that still need a second vote.
Fort Lauderdale is having its wettest September on record. Preliminary data show more than 20 inches of rain at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport this month. The rainy season runs through Oct. 15, and more storms are in the forecast.
More than 20 inches of rain has fallen at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport this month, according to preliminary data. That makes September 2026 the wettest September on record for Fort Lauderdale. The old record was 18.40 inches, set in 1998, and a typical September brings about 8.61 inches. Much of the heaviest recent rain has fallen over Broward, with some spots getting more than 9 inches in just a few days.
King tides peaked Monday after the weekend's full moon. Monday's CBS News Miami forecast called for rain to return Tuesday, with a chance of scattered showers and storms every day this week. The rainy season officially ends Oct. 15.
What to do: Report street flooding and other non-emergency problems through FixIt FTL. You can use the map on the city's FixIt page, the free FixIt FTL app, or call (954) 828-8000.
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A pending FEMA review could lower flood-insurance costs
FEMA rates cities on their flood-management work, and that rating sets a discount on flood insurance for eligible property owners. Fort Lauderdale is currently rated Class 7, which gives those owners a 15% discount. City staff told commissioners on Sept. 15 that FEMA is scheduled to review the city's improvements in October. If FEMA approves, the city could earn a higher rating and a discount of up to 25%.
The review is not guaranteed. The city's presentation schedules FEMA's visit for Oct. 8, but only if the commission first adopts a set of flood-management plans prepared for the review. Those plans include an analysis of properties that flood repeatedly and a plan for handling substantially damaged buildings. Neither the adoption vote nor FEMA's decision has happened yet.
According to the presentation, the city had 23,579 National Flood Insurance Program policies as of May 22, with more than $6.28 billion in coverage. It also has 416 properties that have flooded repeatedly without mitigation, based on FEMA data from Oct. 1, 2025.
The next City Commission meetings are Tuesday, Oct. 6. The conference meeting starts at 1 p.m. and the regular meeting at 6 p.m., both in Community Room #1004 at Fort Lauderdale Police headquarters, 1300 W. Broward Blvd.
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Register by Monday to vote Nov. 3
Monday, Oct. 5, is the deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 3 general election. It is also the deadline to update an existing registration, such as a change of address.
Other dates from the Broward Supervisor of Elections:
Mail ballots: Request one by 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, if you want it mailed to you. Early voting: Oct. 19 through Nov. 1, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Photo ID: Bring one when you vote in person.
For registration, sample ballots and early-voting locations, contact the Supervisor of Elections at browardvotes.gov or (954) 357-8683.
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Beach event limits pass a first vote, but aren't law yet
On Sept. 15, commissioners approved on first reading an overhaul of the city's outdoor event rules. The ordinance sets fees based on each event's impact, caps fees for qualifying Signature and Legacy events, and limits events on the barrier island. It needs a second vote before it takes effect, and the city has not posted a date for that vote.
As written, the ordinance would:
Quiet weekend: City staff would choose one weekend each month with no permitted events on the barrier island. Road closures: Event-related road closures on the barrier island would be capped at 19 a year on a fixed monthly schedule. There would be none in June or October, four in November, and three each in March and May. Holidays and spring break: No additional events would be permitted during city-observed holidays or spring break without commission approval. Neighborhood notice: Organizers would have to give nearby homeowner and civic associations the event's date, time, road closures, music exemptions and expected attendance. Fees: The base application fee would rise from $200 to $500, with higher fees for late applications.
The final version could still change before the second vote. Residents who want to speak on it can sign up on the City Clerk's iPad at the meeting.
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