Current Weather Outlook
Statewide weather outlook from Florida Division of Emergency Management MeteorologyFriday, May 25, 2018
...Sub-Tropical Storm Alberto Forms In Western Caribbean...Heavy Rainfall Expected From Alberto Through The Holiday Weekend...Next 24 Hours, Locally Higher Amounts of 2-3+" May Result In Minor Flooding...Moderate to High Rip Current Risk at All East Coast and Panhandle Beaches...
Updated 7:00 P.M. EDT
Sub-Tropical Storm Alberto formed this morning in the western Caribbean. As of the 5pm EDT advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Alberto was located just east of the Yucatan Peninsula, or about 750 miles south of Pensacola, Florida. Maximum sustained winds were 40 mph and the system has remained nearly stationary all day today. Rainfall from the system is already impacting South Florida, and heavy rain is expected statewide later this weekend as Alberto slowly moves north into the Gulf of Mexico where some gradually strengthening is possible.
Tropical Storm Watches are in effect from Indian Pass, FL westward into Alabama. Storm Surge Watches are in effect from the Suwannee River westward through the Big Bend, Panhandle, and into Alabama. For more information on the tropics, please visit the National Hurricane Center at www.hurricanes.gov.
Clouds will increase this afternoon as we see more scattered showers and thunderstorms across the state. Rain showers associated with Invest 90L are impacting the Keys this morning, and will affect the Keys and South Florida through the day. Rain chances in South Florida are 60-70%, but rain chances elsewhere are 40-60%.
Widespread severe weather is not expected. Recent rainfall has saturated the ground across much of the state. Rainfall amounts of 2” in an hour will be enough to cause minor flooding of urban and low-lying areas. The heaviest rainfall today will be in South Florida.
Clouds and showers will hold down the temperatures in South Florida with highs in the lower 80s. The rest of the state will have highs in the middle to upper 80s. The weather remains unsettled tonight as Invest 90L slowly crawls northward toward the Yucatan Channel. Rain chances in Central and South Florida will be 60-90%, with North Florida seeing rain chances of 50-70%. The threat of flooding continues for South Florida tonight. Lows will be muggy in the lower to middle 70s statewide.
Onshore winds and some swells from Invest 90L today will result in a high risk of rip currents for Panhandle beaches from Escambia County through Bay County. A moderate risk of rip currents is expected along the remaining Panhandle beaches and all Atlantic beaches. A low risk is forecast for all other Florida beaches. Wave heights at all Florida beaches will be 1-3’ today. Remember, always swim within sight of a lifeguard. Rip currents can still occur on low risk days!
With less rainfall across the state the past couple days, many of the rivers have fallen below action stage, with the exception of the Myakka River at Myakka River State Park. However, all will remain below flood stage today. Generally, 0.5 to 1” of rain is expected today across much of the state, though South Florida could see 1-2” of rain. However, locally heavy downpours can lead to higher rain totals of 2-3+”. This could lead to ponding of water in urban and low-lying areas, particularly in South Florida. For more information on specific river stages, please visit the Southeast River Forecast Center here. Lake Okeechobee average elevation is 13.71 feet, which is 0.55 feet above normal for this time of year.
