South Florida

South Florida in for Wet Weekend as Gulf System's Development Chances Increase

What to Know

  • The National Hurricane Center now gives the disturbance a 70 percent chance of development over the next five days.
  • Needless to say, expect periods of rain to enter the forecast again Friday into Saturday and kick out by early next week.

South Florida will need to keep their umbrellas handy over the Memorial Day weekend as a disturbance in the western Caribbean continues to threaten the area with potential downpours starting at the end of the week.

Development of a tropical or subtropical system in the central or eastern Gulf of Mexico this Memorial Day weekend is now being characterized as "likely," forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said Thursday, with a 90 percent chance over the next two days.

The increased chance of development doesn’t change much in regards for what’s expected in South Florida: a flooding threat, with negligible chances for a wind storm.

The area of development should be well west of South Florida, somewhere in the central or eastern Gulf of Mexico.

In a statement Thursday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott said the state is prepared to respond to any potential impacts from the system.

"In Florida, we know how unpredictable severe weather systems can be and while the Gulf Coast and Panhandle are expected to receive the largest impact from this storm, all Floridians should be prepared," Scott said.

Because environmental conditions are far from ideal for tropical development, whatever forms in the Gulf is expected to be a messy, disorganized system.

Nevertheless, expect periods of rain to enter the forecast again Friday and through the Memorial Day weekend. Several inches of rain is possible this weekend with a potential for flooding.

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