Breakfast Brief: More tropical trouble, East heats up

Florida continues to experience heavy rains and flooding, while portions of the Midwest are gearing up for severe weather this afternoon.

Don't expect much changes if you live across the Florida Peninsula. Deep tropical moisture will continue to spark showers and isolated thunderstorms like the past two days. South Florida is expected to bear the brunt of the rain, particularly southwest Florida, where localized amounts over a foot are possible. As of Wednesday morning, Sarasota and Ft. Myers set daily rainfall records, receiving 6.47 inches and 3.99 inches, respectively.

The northeast quadrant of the contiguous U.S. is experiencing a warming trend, with temperatures rising into the 80s and lower 90s in cities like Washington D.C., Indianapolis, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. In the Midwest, scattered severe thunderstorms are expected, potentially bringing large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes. The focus for storms will be southern Iowa and northern parts of Missouri and Illinois, starting in the late afternoon.

Across the West, the weather will vary significantly by region. The Pacific Northwest will enjoy mostly clear skies with slightly below-normal temperatures. Meanwhile, the Southwest will continue to experience unseasonably warm weather, with temperatures soaring in desert lowland areas. California will see mostly clear skies with mild coastal temperatures, while inland California begins to receive slight relief as cooler air arrives from the north.

A tropical system, coined Invest-90, is currently tracking over Florida and bringing heavy rain and flooding issues across the state's peninsula. In addition to Invest-90, another area of potential tropical cyclone formation exists over the Gulf of Mexico which could bring heavy rains and additional flooding concerns to portions of Mexico and possibly southern Texas

Did you know you can receive notifications for incoming tropical systems? Our storm alert feature keeps you informed about dangerous winds, heavy rain, or storm surge in your area. Simply turn on your alerts to stay updated. Find out how here.