Heavy Rain Expected As Disturbance Eyes Florida's West Coast

TAMPA, FL — The National Weather Service is keeping close tabs on a low pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico that is expected to impact the Florida peninsula over the next few days. As of Sunday evening, forecasters said the system was located about 140 miles west of Tampa.

The system has been given a 20 percent chance of developing more over the next 48 hours. The chances for further development over the next five days were pegged at 30 percent as of Sunday evening.

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"This system has some chance to acquire tropical or subtropical characteristics on Monday before it moves inland over the central Florida peninsula on Tuesday, and into the western Atlantic by Wednesday," forecasters wrote in the service’s 8 p.m. July 30 Tropical Weather Outlook report. “Regardless of development, the low is expected to enhance locally heavy rainfall across portions of central and northeastern Florida during the next couple of days."

In the Tampa Bay area, the weather service’s local forecasting office is warning residents to brace for heavy rains through mid-week, at least.

“There are still uncertainties regarding where the heaviest rains will occur over the next several days, but most areas should see at least 1 to 3 inches,” the Tampa Bay weather service office posted on Facebook Sunday morning. “Some coastal areas are likely to see 3 to 5 inches of rain over the next 3 days with locally higher amounts possible.”

As of Sunday morning, the Tampa Bay forecast office was predicting strong rain chances through much of the upcoming workweek. A rip current statement was also issued for beaches throughout the Tampa Bay area. Forecasters say the risk for rip currents is expected to remain high over the next few days, prompting a warning for swimmers to heed lifeguard warnings.

While the Gulf disturbance poses the most immediate threat to the United States, another system in the Atlantic Ocean is also under watch. As of 8 p.m. Sunday, that tropical wave was located "midway between west Africa and the Lesser Antilles." Forecasters say some development is possible as the system moves westward to west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph. The storm has a 20 percent chance of developing more over the next five days.

Should the two disturbances form enough to earn names, they’d be called Emily and Franklin.

Residents readying for the ongoing season can get tips and advice on the federal government’s Ready.gov website. Folks in the Tampa Bay area can also check out this related story: Hurricane Season 2017: What Tampa Bay Area Residents Need To Know.

Graphics courtesy of the National Hurricane Center and NOAA