Current Weather Outlook

Statewide weather outlook from Florida Division of Emergency Management Meteorology

Saturday, May 26, 2018

...Tropical Storm Warnings Are in Effect For the Panhandle, Big Bend, and Parts of the West Coast...Subtropical Storm Alberto Is in the Southern Gulf of Mexico...Heavy Rainfall Expected From Alberto Through The Holiday Weekend...Isolated Tornadoes Possible in South Florida Tonight...Next 24 Hours, Locally Higher Amounts of 3-5" May Result In Flooding...Moderate to High Rip Current Risk at All East Coast, Panhandle, and Some West Coast Beaches...

Updated 5:15 P.M. EDT

As of 5 PM EDT, the center of Subtropical Storm Alberto was 95 miles north of the western tip of Cuba, moving north at 13 mph. Maximum sustained winds remain near 40 mph. Below is a summary of Tropical Storm Watches/Warnings, Storm Surge Watches, and Flood Watches:

• Tropical Storm Warnings: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, southern half of Walton, Bay, Gulf, coastal Franklin, coastal Wakulla, coastal Jefferson, Pinellas, coastal Hillsborough, coastal Manatee, coastal Charlotte, and coastal Lee Counties

• Tropical Storm Watches: northern half of Walton, Holmes, Washington, and Calhoun Counties

• Storm Surge Watches: along the coast from Escambia County through Citrus County

• Flood Watches are in effect for 51 of the 67 Florida counties.

Gradual strengthening is forecast over the next couple days as Alberto moves northward through the eastern and central Gulf of Mexico. Heavy rainfall is already impacting parts of South and Central Florida, and the threat of heavy rain and consequent flooding will slowly spread north through Central Florida and into parts of North Florida through the night. Isolated tornadoes remain possible for southwestern Florida, where a Slight Risk of severe weather exists. For more information on the tropics, please visit the National Hurricane Center at www.hurricanes.gov.

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Updated 8:15 A.M. EDT

Skies will remain mainly cloudy through the day with showers and embedded thunderstorms spreading northward across the Peninsula today as Subtropical Storm Alberto creeps northward toward the southern Gulf of Mexico. Showers and thunderstorms will be more scattered across the Panhandle.

There is a Marginal Risk for isolated tornadoes in Southwest Florida today. Rain is overspread South Florida today. With the heavy rainfall over the past 2 weeks, soils are saturated, and any additional heavy rainfall could lead to flooding. The heaviest rain today will primarily be in South Florida, spreading northward into Central Florida tonight.

Highs will be held down due to cloud cover and rain, ranging from the upper 70s and lower 80s over South Florida to the middle 80s across North and Central Florida. Rain chances are 70-100% over south Florida, 40-60% for the remainder of the state through today and into tonight. Lows will remain quite muggy in the lower to middle 70s statewide. Winds will be breezy through the day over the Keys and far South Florida.

Onshore winds and swells from Subtropical Storm Alberto today will result in a high risk of rip currents for all Panhandle beaches and Atlantic beaches from Palm Beach County to Miami-Dade County. A moderate risk of rip currents is expected along the remaining Atlantic beaches and Gulf Coast beaches from Pinellas County to Lee County. A low risk is forecast for all other Florida beaches. Wave heights at all Florida beaches will be 3-5’ today. Remember, always swim within sight of a lifeguard. Rip currents can still occur on low risk days!

Rainfall is expected to increase across much of the Peninsula today in association with Subtropical Storm Alberto. Rainfall totals of 0.5-1.5” are expected across North and Central Florida, with South Florida seeing 1-3”. Some locations in South Florida will see locally higher totals up to 4-5”. There are currently no rivers in flood stage. However, that could change as rivers are expected to rise. For more information on specific river stages, please visit the Southeast River Forecast Center here. Lake Okeechobee average elevation is 13.75 feet, which is 0.60 feet above normal for this time of year.