Heavy rain, gusty winds, dangerous surf in forecast for Florida, Gulf Coast
Florida and the Gulf Coast are bracing for some tropical rainfall this week.
Some rain could be heavy enough to disrupt travel, according to AccuWeather forecasters.
As of 9 p.m. Monday, Plantation outside of Fort Lauderdale had received 6.43 inches of rain. In Hollywood, 4.67 inches of rain was recorded.
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Some nearby areas saw nowhere near as much. Fort Lauderdale Airport received 1.32 inches on Monday, while Miami recorded 2.46 inches.
Strong winds, coastal flooding expected along Atlantic coast of Florida
The National Weather Service in Melbourne warned boating and beach conditions will be dangerous today, and has placed Volusia County under a coastal flood warning. Brevard County and the Treasure Coast are under a coastal flood advisory.
Coastal flooding is a special concern for communities along Florida's central coast, which were hit hard by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole in 2022. Onshore winds in these areas could lead to flooding issues, especially during high tide today.
Extremely rough surf is in the forecast along the Atlantic coast and entering the surf is not advised.
Warnings and advisories in effect
Coastal flood warning: until 4 p.m. Wednesday. Large breaking waves of 6 to 8 feet expected in the surf zone in Volusia County, which is especially vulnerable to wave runup after the loss of dunes and sea walls as a result of Hurricanes Ian and Nicole last year.
High surf advisory: until 4 a.m. Wednesday. Large breaking waves of 6 to 8 feet expected in the surf zone along Brevard County and the Treasure Coast. High surf will affect the beaches, producing localized beach erosion and dangerous swimming conditions.
Swimmers should remain out of the water due to large breaking waves and dangerous surf conditions. Entering the surf is not advised.
Flood watch: A flood watch was issued for coastal and metro Miami-Dade and Broward counties through at least 8 p.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service Miami.
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High rip current risk: through late Wednesday night. There is a high risk of dangerous rip currents at all area beaches today. Entering the surf remains strongly discouraged due to the dangerous surf and rip current conditions.
What is the weather forecast across Florida and the Gulf Coast this week?
The heaviest rain from late Tuesday through Wednesday night is expected to center on southeast Louisiana, east through the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama. Widespread rainfall amounts of a half to 1 inch, with localized reports of around 2 inches, are expected. In the areas of heaviest rain, most likely to the south of New Orleans, totals closer to 4 inches are possible.
Those traveling along the Interstate 10 corridor could encounter some delays with these rounds of rain into Wednesday.
"As the week progresses, the moisture is expected to push back east, allowing for more of Florida to get in on the wet weather," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys.
On Thursday, drenching thunderstorms are expected to shift back into parts of Alabama, Florida and Georgia, bringing much-needed rain to many areas.
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A few thunderstorms may produce gusty winds Wednesday or Thursday afternoon. An isolated and brief tornado is possible, mainly along the immediate Gulf Coast.
Tropical development now unlikely in Gulf of Mexico
Last week, AccuWeather meteorologists believed there was a long shot a tropical depression or tropical storm could form in the Gulf of Mexico during the second week of April. The chances of a tropical or subtropical system spinning up have now further diminished.
"This week, the conditions in the northern Gulf of Mexico do not favor tropical development," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. "The water is not quite warm enough, and the storm will not spend enough time over the Gulf before moving ashore."
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida weather forecast: Downpours, rough surf, flood warning
