Continued Showers And Thunderstorms Expected To Plague Central And South Peninsula...Some Storms Could Be Severe...Flood Warnings and Watches in Effect For West Central Florida...Tropics Remain Quiet

The weakened frontal boundary that caused excessive flooding problems for the Tampa Bay Region yesterday has moved south to the tip of the Florida Peninsula, leaving its remnants of scattered showers and thunderstorms behind. However, there is another cold front slowly approaching North Florida today, and the combination between these two patterns, in addition with a west-southwest wind flow that is pulling tropical moisture into the peninsula will cause widespread shower activity throughout the state, with the maximum amount of rainfall expected in West Central Florida. Rainfall will only be isolated in Northeast Florida and the panhandle due to a lingering pocket of dry air over the region, but the afternoon sea breeze could enhance instability associated with the approaching cold front and spawn more shower activity for Northern Florida.

Daytime heating is expected to increase today for Central and South Florida, and as a result, some storms could be more vigorous and could yield severe weather for the region. The biggest threat will be torrential downpours with slow moving storms causing flooding, but stronger storms may contain cloud-to-ground lightning, damaging winds, waterspouts over coastal waters, and possibly an isolated short lived tornado over coastal counties. The worst weather will be focused on western parts of Central and South Florida.

A Flood Watch is in effect for West Central Florida through this evening due to a continued forecast of high precipitation for the region. Widespread rainfall totals will reach 1 to 3 inches with locally 3 to 6 inches where intense thunderstorms develop. A Flood Warning is in effect for the Manatee River at Myakka Head and the Manatee River at Rye Bridge until Friday Morning. Flash Flood Survival Tips

There is a Moderate to High Risk for Rip Currents along all gulf coast beaches today from the Florida Big Bend to Southwest Florida today due to a westerly wind flow. Those entering the water should be aware of the risk of a strong undertow, and only swim near a lifeguard.

Skies will remain partly cloudy for much of Northern Florida and the Florida Keys today with only isolated shower activity expected. In the western panhandle, Florida Big Bend, and Northeast Florida, temperatures will heat up quickly to the mid to upper 90s with heat indices reaching into the lower 100s. The central and southern peninsula will be cooler due to shower activity and reach the upper 80s to lower 90s. Drier air in the northern part of the state will drop nighttime temperatures slightly lower than usual to the low 70s in interior counties and upper 60s in the interior western panhandle. Interior parts of the peninsula will fall to the mid 70s, and coastal regions will stay warmer at the mid to upper 70s.

The tropics are currently quiet, with only a few weak tropical waves moving in the Atlantic Basin. National Hurricane Center

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