Localized flooding possible: Heavy rains targets Florida

Florida is still experiencing a historic drought, but fortunately, rain is on the way and may bring some relief to much of the state in the coming days.

The same system that was along the Gulf Coast on Monday continues to move eastward, bringing a cold front that will pass through Florida between Tuesday and Wednesday. The risk of severe storms will be concentrated in the eastern half of Florida on Tuesday afternoon and evening, including cities such as Daytona Beach, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Miami, and the entire Lake Okeechobee area. The primary threat will be destructive winds exceeding 58 mph.

The storms formed on Monday due to the sea breeze and the moist air flowing in from the southwest. High humidity will remain in the atmosphere on Tuesday, and with the front acting as a lifting mechanism, thunderstorms will be much more frequent, covering much of northern Florida starting in the morning. By the afternoon, the WeatherRadar shows thunderstorms in central Florida and in the southern part of the state.

On Wednesday afternoon, the risk of showers and some thunderstorms will return, though the likelihood of severe weather will decrease. Even so, the highest probability of isolated thunderstorms will be concentrated in South Florida. This rain is not only needed to alleviate the drought but also because there are many active fires in the state, which are occurring during the weeks of peak wildfire activity.

We’re forecasting 2 to 4 inches of rain in parts of eastern Florida, so be on the lookout for possible flooding. Remember, you can share videos of the weather in your area with us using the new feature in our Weather & Radar app, which adds WeatherRadar and keeps you informed at all times.