A Florida city, known for its heavy rainfall from the Caribbean, is gearing up to receive double its monthly rainfall in just 5 days.
This sudden surge comes after a spell of extreme heat across southern United States. The storm is set to pour down from Wednesday to Friday and could unleash flooding starting Tuesday and lasting through the weekend.
The <a href="https://newslivecenter.com/tag/national-weather-service/”>National Weather Service has issued warnings, with NWS Tampa Bay sharing a five-day rainfall forecast map. Fort Myers might bear the brunt with a forecast of 15-20 inches of rain, compared to its average June precipitation of 9.66 inches.
Moist air from the Caribbean is expected to sweep across the state, causing widespread showers, especially in Southwest Florida where the heaviest rainfall is anticipated between Wednesday and Friday.
This week, a plume of moist air from the Caribbean is expected to move through the state. The Caribbean will be a source of widespread rain showers, with Southwest Florida experiencing the most. This rain will mostly fall from Wednesday to Friday. #flwx pic.twitter.com/f8tJxxfRBo
— NWS Tampa Bay (@NWSTampaBay) June 10, 2024
Dave Hubbard mentioned potential flooding in southern Florida, as the region grapples with severe drought. He highlighted that the incoming rain could alleviate drought conditions, notably in areas like Sarasota that faced a 25-inch rainfall deficit in 2023.
Hubbard further explained the severity of the situation, with over 20% of Florida experiencing acute drought, over 41% facing moderate drought, and more than half of the state seeing lower-than-normal rainfall.
Regarding the flood risk, Hubbard reassured that gradual rain accumulation would be manageable as the region’s water bodies had ample capacity due to the prolonged dry spell.
Localized flooding is a possibility, especially towards the end of the week. Hubbard urged caution and advised against driving into floodwaters, although no official weather warnings were in place for Florida on Monday.
Meteorologists took to social media to echo warnings about the anticipated downpour. Matt Devitt of WINK News and Chris Bruin from The Weather Channel pinpointed Central and South Florida, alerting residents to expect a shift from drought to deluge.
Local news channel 10 Tampa Bay also chimed in, painting a picture of Florida transitioning from arid conditions to heavy rainfall. While most areas can absorb the rain, isolated flooding is still a concern.