South Florida, with the sole exception of mainland Monroe County, is under a flood watch on Wednesday as rainfall accumulates from Tropical Depression # 9. Expect additional showers and storms on Wednesday, including downpours that could dump an inch or 2 of rain in a short time. Flooding poses a serious problem in portions of the Marco Island and Naples areas, and Collier County can also expect some coastal flooding. The risk of dangerous rip currents remains at south Florida’s beaches. Wednesday’s highs will be in the mid to upper 80s.
Miami-Dade, Broward, and the Upper Keys will see periods of sun alternate with stormy periods on Thursday, but the Gulf coast will remain stormy throughout the day. Thursday’s highs will be in the muggy low 90s in the east coast metro areas and in the upper 80s along the Gulf coast.
Friday will begin a transition to mostly afternoon storms and late summer heat, with highs reaching the sticky low 90s (and even hotter in some locations).
Saturday will bring hot sun, afternoon storms, and highs in the low to mid 90s to kick off the Labor Day weekend.
Tropical Depression # 9 could reach tropical storm strength at any time. As of 5 am Wednesday, TD # 9 was located near 24.5 North, 88.1 West, and was moving north at 2 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds were 35 miles per hour. A tropical storm warning is in effect from just north of Tampa Bay to the Walton County/Bay County line. The system is forecast to make landfall Thursday night or early Friday, track across the state, and emerge in the Atlantic. Much of north and central Florida can expect damaging winds and rainfall of up to 10 inches, with potentially serious flooding in the Tampa Bay area.
Elsewhere, Tropical Depression # 8 is slowly moving away from the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Hurricane Gaston strengthened to a major hurricane again early Wednesday as it moves east-northeast towards the Azores.
And we’re watching a wave a few hundred miles off the African coast. It has a medium chance of developing into a depression as it moves generally west-northwestward on its way to the Lesser Antilles this weekend.
