A surge in downpours and gusty thunderstorms that could disrupt outdoor plans and travel in Florida is forecast to begin later this weekend and may persist into next week.AccuWeather meteorologists say strong wind shear and dry air will combine to thwart any new tropical development in mid-July, but they’re still expecting a dangerously busy hurricane season.
A vast amount of dry air and dust is present over the unusually warm waters of the tropical Atlantic this week, and it will remain a deterring factor for tropical development in the short term. One such tropical wave was located over the middle of the Atlantic on Wednesday and will cross the Leeward Islands on Thursday. It will then progress westward from the British and U.S. Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico on Friday and west-northwestward near Hispaniola and the southern Bahamas this weekend.
Later on Sunday, the system will approach the Florida Peninsula from the southeast, resulting in a similar uptick in downpours and gusty thunderstorms. A couple of waterspouts can also occur."While we do not expect this system to organize and strengthen, it will bring locally heavy rain to Florida from as early as Sunday to perhaps as long as Tuesday in some areas," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said.