MIAMI (AP) - The Latest on heavy rainfall in Florida (all times local):
12:30 p.m.
All the rain soaking parts of Florida could create breeding sites for mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus.
Mosquito control officials are urging residents to drain anything that has collected water during heavy rainfall this week. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes breed in containers of stagnant water, including items as small as bottle caps.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently lifted travel warnings about potential Zika risks in Miami-Dade County , where mosquitoes spread the virus last year.
To keep those risks low, Miami-Dade County Mosquito Surveillance Manager Chalmers Vasquez advises residents to regularly drain standing water from garbage cans, gutters, pool covers, flowerpots, toys and other items that catch rainwater.
In Broward County, officials will spray bacteria-based pesticides from trucks in urban areas Thursday and Friday to kill Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae.
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10:40 a.m.
Spokeswomen for a major outlet mall in Florida say no property damage has been caused by heavy rainfall that has closed the tourist destination for a second day.
Sawgrass Mills spokeswoman Jennifer Valdes said Thursday the flooding that has closed the mall roughly 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of Miami was limited to its exterior parking lots.
Simon Property Group spokeswoman Maria Weber said the mall in Sunrise received 15 inches (38 centimeters) of rain in the last three days, including 10 inches (25 centimeters) in one 24-hour period. Weber said the mall’s buildings were “completely unaffected” by the rain and flooding that has closed the parking lots and access roads.
Neither Valdes nor Weber provided figures for the estimated cost of closing the mall’s 350 stores for two days.
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9:20 a.m.
A major outlet mall in Florida is closed for a second day due to flooding from heavy rainfall.
Officials from Sawgrass Mills mall made the announcement in social media posts Thursday. The mall, located north of Miami, closed Wednesday after heavy rains flooded the massive parking lot, stranding cars.
While rain is in the forecast, the National Weather Service said fewer clouds are expected Thursday, with some sunshine in the morning and scattered storms in the afternoon. There’s also a 70 percent chance of rain in South Florida on Friday with diminishing rain chances over the weekend.
Some areas got up to 11 inches (28 centimeters) of rain between Monday and Wednesday. The weather service said 7.3 inches (18 centimeters) fell in Sunrise, where Sawgrass Mills is located.
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