Clinton Travel Plans a Wash in Downpour

A drenching storm spun out of the Florida Keys, closing Miami International Airport and grounding President Clinton. The heavy downpours also flooded rush-hour roadways and forced businesses to close early. Clinton was scheduled to travel by helicopter from Miami to Palm Beach County to attend a fund-raiser. Instead, he planned to address the gathering by telephone. Miami’s airport shut down in the afternoon, reopened briefly, then closed until further notice, an airport spokesman said. Canals were on the verge of overflowing and streets, homes and businesses were flooded by as much as 11.5 inches of rain that fell in some parts of Miami-Dade County over a 15-hour period.