West Palm Beach got 7.39 inches of rain Nov. 2, nearly triple the 1925 record. The city lists trash pickup changes and the Grassy Waters closure.
West Palm Beach got 7.39 inches of rain Monday, Nov. 2, the most ever recorded in the city on that date. The old record for the day was 2.52 inches, set in 1925.
The figures are from the National Weather Service. The City of West Palm Beach published them in a release on the flooding Tuesday. The city said the official two-day total for Nov. 1-2 was 11.67 inches. That is more than three times the city’s average rainfall for the whole of November.
The city said some areas probably got even more. Preliminary reports suggest parts of northern Palm Beach County may have passed the thresholds of a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall event, it said.
What the city says is happening
The rain overwhelmed parts of the city’s stormwater system, the city said. The volume has been more than the system can move as fast as it falls, so standing water may stay in some areas until levels go down.
- Storm drains. Crews are working around the clock to clear storm drain grates, the city said.
- Sewer system. The sanitary sewer system is running at maximum capacity. Floodwater is keeping crews from reaching some facilities. Public Utilities teams will check every facility as the water goes down.
- Police and Fire Rescue. Both are fully operational, and emergency response has not been affected, the city said.
Trash pickup changes
Flooding delayed garbage collection in some neighborhoods. The city gave these instructions:
| Neighborhood | What to do |
|---|---|
| Jonathan’s Cove and Lakes of Laguna | Put any extra bagged garbage next to your carts for pickup Thursday, Nov. 5. |
| Turtle Cove | Bulk and yard waste was not collected Tuesday. Pull it back from the curb, then put it out again with any extra items for pickup Tuesday, Nov. 10. |
Questions go to Public Works at 561-822-2075. Regular schedules are on our trash and recycling guide.
Grassy Waters Preserve is closed
The Grassy Waters Nature Center and the Cypress Boardwalk are closed until further notice because of flooding. The city said it will announce when they reopen. Other places to walk are in our parks and trails guide.
The weather now
The rain has moved on. The National Weather Service forecast for West Palm Beach calls for a partly sunny Wednesday with a high near 84 degrees, then a sunny Thursday. Our earlier story has the rain gauge totals and the flash flood warnings from the weekend.
What it means for you
- Do not drive through standing water. The city said to turn around and find another route. Floodwater can also hide hazards for people on foot.
- Report flooding or standing water in your neighborhood to the city at 561-822-2222.
- Jonathan’s Cove, Lakes of Laguna and Turtle Cove have the pickup changes listed above.
- Grassy Waters is closed. Check with the city before you go.
- Road closures in and around the city are on our road construction and closures page.
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