Downpours to spark localized flooding, disruptions across Florida to end July

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather meteorologist

July 30,2017, 6:28:04PM,EDT

 

Thunderstorms will increase in coverage across the Florida Peninsula and threaten to disrupt travel and vacation plans through Tuesday.

The thunderstorms will pack more of a punch in terms of intensity, coverage and frequency when compared to the typical afternoon thunderstorms that pop up across the Sunshine State during the summer months.
The front that has opened the door for less humid air to grace the rest of the South will fail to sweep across Florida to close out July. That will provide an extra boost to thunderstorm development through Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the strong push of unseasonably dry air will end the threat of thunderstorms elsewhere across the Southeast through early week.
"An area of low pressure has formed along the front," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said. "The low is being monitored to potentially acquire some tropical characteristics, but it will likely move into Florida before doing so."

The low should move into central Florida by or during Tuesday.
"If the jet stream fails to pick up the low after it moves across Florida, there is a low chance that the low could become a subtropical depression over the warm waters of the southwestern Atlantic Ocean around midweek," Pydynowski said.
A subtropical depression has both characteristics of a tropical and a non-tropical system.
Before the low reaches the Atlantic, the stormy weather across the Florida Peninsula early this week will not be limited to the afternoon hours as is typically the case during the summer.
Vacationers should prepare for several ruined beach days and make plans for indoor activities. An umbrella and rain boots will be necessities.
Several inches of rain can pour down in a matter of hours and trigger localized flooding.
Downpours led to a few flooding incidents around Jacksonville on Sunday morning, but any downpours will be much more isolated on Monday and Tuesday.
Orlando, Tampa, Melbourne, Gainesville, Miami and Fort Myers are among the cities that can expect multiple days of heavy rain.
Locally damaging winds could accompany the strongest thunderstorms in the area, causing minor tree damage and sporadic power outages. At the very least, frequent lightning will endanger anyone caught outdoors.
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Mariners and those living near the coast will need to be aware of possible waterspouts. Should a waterspout move inland, more communities will be endangered and the risk of storm damage will increase.
Motorists should avoid flood-prone areas and drive on elevated interstates if at all possible. Slower speeds will be necessary on highways due to the increased risk of hydroplaning.
Airline passengers may face more delays than normal at the major hubs.
The stormy pattern will give Floridians a break from the typical 90-degree Fahrenheit heat of July. High temperatures in the middle to upper 80s will be common into the middle of the week.
Miami recorded 41-consecutive days of temperatures reaching at or above 90 F on Sunday, marking the second all-time longest stretch. The stormy pattern is likely to end this streak on Monday.
The downpours will slowly lift northward across Florida and the Gulf Coast toward the middle and latter half of the week. This will put the I-10 corridor from Houston to Jacksonville at a greater risk of heavy rain and localized flooding.