A tree hit by lightning blocked SW 83rd Avenue at SW 181st Street in Palmetto Bay on Saturday evening, Aug. 1, forcing crews to close the road and reroute traffic.
The Village of Palmetto Bay posted the closure alert on its official X account around 10:15 p.m., asking drivers to avoid the area and use alternate routes while crews cleared the roadway. The village did not name which agency responded or specify a detour.
The road remained closed as of Sunday, Aug. 2. No follow-up post confirming it had reopened appeared on the village's social channels.
Storm season context
The lightning strike came on a day when a heat advisory was in effect across Miami-Dade County, with heat index values topping 105 degrees before scattered thunderstorms rolled through. Local 10 meteorologist Jennifer Collins said in a Saturday weather report that storms were expected to form inland and push east, with development beginning around 3 p.m.
The National Weather Service identifies July through early September as the peak of Florida's rainy season, when frequent lightning remains a significant hazard. Florida averages more than 3,000 cloud-to-ground strikes per day, according to NBC 6 South Florida.
Saturday's closure is not the first weather-related road blockage the village has flagged. On July 30, 2025, the same account alerted residents to a tree blocking SW 77th Avenue.
Residents who want real-time road closure and emergency alerts can sign up for Palmetto Bay Connect by texting "PBConnect" to 24639 or visiting palmettobay-fl.gov. The system covers road closures, hurricane updates, and other village news. Drivers heading through the SW 83rd Avenue and SW 181st Street area should check the village's social media channels for an update on when the road reopens.
