Florida’s Tropical Disturbance: Rain Likely, But Development Not

TAMPA BAY, FL — Tampa Bay area residents may have to endure a few more waterlogged days, but a storm currently over north Florida isn’t likely to develop more. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center on Sunday said the storm is expected to effect the state's weather for a few more days, but there is little risk of a tropical depression forming.

The storm in question is a weak area of low pressure that was located inland over northeast Florida as of 2 p.m. Sunday. The storm is generating thunderstorms and showers, forecasters said in their Tropical Weather Outlook report, but is not building in strength. The disturbance has been given no chance of further formation over the next five days.

While a lack of development is good news for Florida and Tampa Bay, forecasters do say wet weather is likely to continue through the next few days. Scattered thunderstorms are likely throughout the evening hours Sunday with a 50 percent chance of heavy rain forecast to start out the day Monday. Heavy rain chances remain strong through Tuesday with scattered storm chances likely through the daytime hours on Thursday.

A flood watch has been issued for Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties through 8 a.m. Tuesday. Some portions of the Nature Coast have logged about 5 inches of rain since the disturbance formed at the end of the workweek, the National Weather Service reported on Facebook.

Meanwhile, a disturbance in the Atlantic is also drawing the attention of hurricane center forecasters. That storm is not likely to have an impact on Florida. It is has been given a 20 percent chance of developing over the next five days and is currently located near the Bahamas.

For an extended forecast in your neighborhood, visit your local Patch’s homepage.

Graphic courtesy of the National Hurricane Center