Heavy storms are expected to hammer Florida and the Southeast with up to 8 inches of rain this week, perhaps offering some drought relief in the region and bringing threatening hazards.
The soaking rain could arrive as soon as Tuesday in Florida, according to the National Weather Service's Tampa Bay office.
AccuWeather forecasters predicts 4-8 rainfall inches in parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and the Florida panhandle.
Regions from the Carolinas and Virginia to Texas will receive overwhelming rainfall, according to AccuWeather. The private weather agency warned of flash flood risks in the South.
The NWS says rainfall could climb to 4 inches in west central and southwest Florida.
Patch on Tuesday spoke with NWS meteorologist Keily Delerme at the Tampa Bay office in Ruskin.
She said as Florida transitions into a more wet season, the probability of storms will gradually increase this week. Sea breezes will aid the summer rain in developing.
With Florida currently in a southeasterly flow, Delerme said the storms will primarily form along the I-75 corridor, starting Tuesday afternoon. This will impact the Tampa Bay region.
As with typical summertime sea breeze storms in the Sunshine State, she said hazards include small hail, frequent lightning, damaging winds and tornadoes.
Flooding was not an initial concern for Florida on Tuesday, but isolated flooding is not completely off of the table.
A few storms could conjure along the coast, but Delerme said coastal areas should largely remain dry.
"It's important for people to stay weather alert," Delerme said.
AccuWeather forecasters credit the moist forecast to a drifting front anticipated to stall across the South.
Across the region, southern states will be blasted with widespread storms through at least Saturday, according to an AccuWeather graphic.
States further west of Florida are set to experience less rainfall than the East Coast. Some areas could reach rainfall totals beyond 8 inches.
Drainage systems could be swamped and lead to flash flooding, particularly in urban towns, AccuWeather reported.
Atlanta is one of multiple metro cities that could face travel delays and flash flooding. Others are New Orleans; Gulfport, Mississippi; and Mobile and Birmingham, Alabama.
The heavy rain could curtail drought conditions in some states, including in Florida where 75 percent of the Sunshine State is battling extreme drought, AccuWeather reported.
"Rain will fall across parts of the south-central and southeastern United States this week," AccuWeather Expert Meteorologist Adam Douty said in a report released Tuesday. "However, any tropical system that organizes in that zone could strengthen modestly, increase winds and surf and produce locally heavy rain across parts of the Florida Peninsula near the end of the month."
Some storms could attract moisture from the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf and become torrential.
Weather officials advised drivers do not attempt to travel on flooded roadways and instead turn around to find an alternate route.
"Driving through floodwaters not only puts you and your occupants at risk, but also your would-be rescuers," AccuWeather stated.
Here is the National Weather Service's Tuesday afternoon forecast for Tampa:
This Afternoon: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 100. South wind 8-10 mph.
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Heat index values as high as 99. East southeast wind 6 to 8 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. Light and variable wind.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming west southwest 5-9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming west southwest 5-9 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 p.m., then showers and thunderstorms likely after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Southwest wind 5-10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 8pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then showers likely after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.
Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.
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