Flooding concerns grow in Florida as thunderstorms repeat
From soggy commutes to beach disruptions, repeated downpours could trigger flash flooding in parts of Florida.
After seemingly nonstop rain this week, Floridians will finally get a break when the weekend arrives.
Dry weather will be hard to come by across much of Florida this week, as a nearby storm system fuels repeated rounds of heavy downpours and strong thunderstorms. Flash flooding is a key concern, AccuWeather meteorologists warn. Long-awaited relief should arrive this weekend.
Summer and early autumn are typically the busiest times of the year for Florida thunderstorms, as heat, humidity, and sea breezes spark towering clouds and daily downpours. However, most storms are brief and widely-separated.
With a nearby front, developing areas of low pressure, and an influx of moisture, conditions are set for torrential downpours that may linger and repeat. This can overwhelm storm drains and even challenge Florida’s typically absorbent sandy soil.
Most of the Florida Peninsula will pick up 1-3 inches of rain from Monday through Friday, an amount drainage systems can typically handle. However, some areas may receive 3-6 inches with locally higher totals. If rainfall rates exceed 2 inches per hour, storm drains may be overwhelmed, triggering flash flooding.
Persistent storms may disrupt plans for beach trips, golf outings, or visits to central Florida theme parks.
Most storms will form in the afternoon and early evening, but some downpours could also occur overnight and during the morning commute.
Drier, cooler air on the way
Drier weather is coming to the Florida Peninsula. The good news for the weekend is that most places over the Florida Peninsula will turn sunny with lowering humidity by Saturday.
This will be the first big push of cooler and less humid air of the season for the Peninsula.
It may take until Sunday for most storms to depart South Florida and the upper part of the Keys. A shower cannot be ruled out on Sunday in Key West.
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