Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Scattered Afternoon Showers and Thunderstorms Expected Again Across Much of the State Today…A Few Storms Could Be Strong…Increased Rip Current Threat along Panhandle Beaches…Tropical Storm Chantal forms in the Northern Atlantic...
Another day of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms is expected for the Florida Panhandle and North Florida area today as a weakening cold front across southern Georgia and Alabama slowly approaches the Florida state border from the north today while keeping abundant moisture and instability across the area. The first chance of rain in Florida will be early this afternoon and evening along the gulf coast sea breeze. Steering flow will be from the north today, so showers developing near the front will be pushed southward and any storms developing with the sea breeze will likely remain south of the Florida border. Thunderstorms today will most likely contain frequent to excessive lightning and brief downpours with rainfall amounts between 2 and 3 inches. A few strong storms may produce strong gusty winds and small hail. Similar to Monday, storms should decrease in intensity during the evening with the loss of daytime heating, but a few scattered showers will be possible over inland areas tonight as the front continues to move south. The front is expected to stall across North Florida and the northern Gulf coast by Wednesday, with drier air behind the front.
With the cold front positioned to the north and high pressure positioned to the south of the Peninsula, a moist southwest flow will result between the two systems. Plenty of moisture and instability will result in scattered to numerous storms across much of the area. With strong southwest flow, the west coast sea breeze will dominate the weather pattern today and scattered storms are expected along and ahead of the sea breeze as it moves onshore later this morning. In addition, an upper level disturbance in the eastern Gulf of Mexico will also push storms from the Gulf into western Peninsula counties throughout the day. Storms will increase in coverage and intensity as they combine with daytime heating and move inland with showers reaching Central Florida around noon and the east coast during the afternoon hours. The greatest threats with thunderstorms today will be frequent lightning and heavy rainfall. Gusty winds and small hail are possible in the more intense storms. Waterspouts may also form with strong storms over the water, with the greatest threat area along the Treasure and Space coasts. A few scattered storms are possible along the east coast through the evening, but should dissipate by midnight.
A moderate risk of rip currents is expected along Florida Panhandle and Big Bend beaches.
(yea!! something too keep our eye on)
In the tropics, three tropical waves along with an area of low pressure and Tropical Storm Chantal are positioned over the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. Tropical Storm Chantal, located about 380 miles north of Bermuda is expected to move away from the U.S. while transitioning to an extratropical system as it moves into cooler waters. An area of low pressure within a tropical wave is located about 700 miles east of the Windward Islands is becoming better organized. Conditions are favorable for development and it could become a tropical depression within the next few days. It is expected to move west at about 15mph and computer models bring the system into the central Caribbean this weekend.
Yesterday was a great cloud day cu's going up every where, west coast breeze pushed everything away but I love to stalk those clouds!!
