Radar estimates showed 11 to 12 inches of rain in the Fort Lauderdale area, with up to 17 inches closer to the coast, Chuck Caracozza, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Miami, said Wednesday evening. A flash flood emergency had been issued for areas near Fort Lauderdale and Dania Beach, but even after that expired early Thursday a flood warning remained until 8 a.m. Fort Lauderdale's fire department reported severe flooding.