Could This Stalled System Near Florida Turn Tropical? What to Know

You might want to make alternate plans this weekend if you were planning to soak up the Florida sunshine. It is set up to be a soggy weekend for much of South Florida as a surge of tropical moisture unleashes heavy rain. Here is a look at what to expect across the peninsula through the weekend.

South Florida Braces for Flooding Threat

South Florida has dodged major tropical weather impacts this season; however, that does not mean that it has been clear and calm. Another round of moisture originating in the tropics is going to fuel a multi-day flood threat across the region in the days ahead. The bulk of the rain will be focused on the southern part of the state.

Forecasters are warning that the busy Interstate 95 corridor is likely to pick up 3 to 5 inches of rain through Tuesday. Some of the heaviest-hit areas could see up to 8 inches of precipitation by the time that this system wraps up.

A potent zone of low pressure is coming together near Cuba. This system is expected to anchor itself over the Caribbean and South Florida, pulling up a plume of tropical moisture that will support the development of heavy rain and thunderstorms.

In addition to the presence of tropical moisture coming in from the Atlantic, the peak of the King Tides this weekend will amplify the threat of coastal flooding. King Tides naturally occur when the gravitational pulls of the sun and the moon align with the Earth. This tide cycle happens during a new or full moon as the celestial body is at its closest point to Earth.