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Florida in the crosshairs as rain and potential tropical system loom<\/strong><\/p>\n FORT MYERS, Fla.<\/strong> \u2013 The Sunshine State<\/strong> is in for a stretch of very un-sunny weather<\/strong> this week as meteorologists track a developing low-pressure system that could soak parts of Florida<\/strong> with inches of rain<\/strong> and potentially grow into something tropical<\/strong> once it reaches the Gulf of Mexico<\/strong>.<\/p>\n What\u2019s currently a weak non-tropical disturbance<\/strong> is expected to move off the Southeast U.S. coast<\/strong>, travel across northern Florida<\/strong>, and eventually drift into the Gulf<\/strong> later in the week. And with several days forecast over the warm waters<\/strong> of the Gulf<\/strong> and western Atlantic<\/strong>, the National Hurricane Center<\/strong> has flagged it as something worth watching.<\/p>\n As of now, the NHC<\/strong> gives the system just a low chance<\/strong> of becoming a tropical depression or storm within the next seven days<\/strong>, but has highlighted a wide swath of the Gulf Coast<\/strong>\u2014from New Orleans<\/strong> through Florida<\/strong> and into the Atlantic<\/strong>\u2014as an area under close observation.<\/p>\n In a weekend update, forecasters wrote, \u201cEnvironmental conditions could become marginally conducive for the gradual development of this system by mid to late next week as the system moves generally westward across the Florida Peninsula and over the eastern and north-central portion of the Gulf. Regardless of development, heavy rainfall is possible over portions of the Florida Peninsula and southeast U.S. coast through mid to late next week.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Heavy rain, flash flooding possible across Central and South Florida<\/strong><\/p>\n Even if the system never earns a name, its impact will be felt<\/strong>. Central and South Florida<\/strong> are set for a multi-day soaking<\/strong>, with Monday<\/strong> likely bringing the most intense rainfall. Forecasts show 3 to 5 inches<\/strong> (76 to 127 mm) or more may fall across the area, especially south of the I-4 corridor<\/strong>, and some stronger thunderstorms<\/strong> could dump 1 to 3 inches per hour<\/strong> (25 to 76 mm), raising concerns for flash flooding<\/strong>, especially starting Sunday<\/strong> and continuing through the middle of the week<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The day-by-day placement<\/strong> of storms and the heaviest downpours will become clearer as the system evolves. But the message is already clear: expect a very wet<\/strong> few days ahead for much of the Florida Peninsula<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tropical development? It\u2019s possible \u2014 but far from certain<\/strong><\/p>\n Later in the week, attention shifts to the Gulf of Mexico<\/strong>, where the system could try to organize into something more than just a rainmaker. So far, most forecast models<\/strong> don\u2019t indicate a strong tropical cyclone forming, but some are starting to suggest a low-end system<\/strong> may develop, depending on how long it lingers over the warm Gulf waters<\/strong>.<\/p>\n FOX Weather meteorologist Michael Estime<\/strong> pointed out a \u201ccinnamon bun swirl\u201d<\/strong> on model charts \u2014 a sign of mid-level rotation \u2014 saying it could, emphasis on could<\/em>, develop tropical characteristics<\/strong> by midweek<\/strong> if conditions line up just right.<\/p>\n That includes factors like wind shear<\/strong>, which can tear apart developing storms, and how much energy<\/strong> the system can pull from the warm ocean surface. For now, the setup is far from ideal \u2014 but it\u2019s also not being ignored.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no credible threat at the moment,\u201d<\/strong> the FOX Forecast Center<\/strong> said. \u201cBut the pattern is worth watching \u2014 and watch it, we will.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lightning strike injures three on St. Augustine Beach Pier<\/strong><\/p>\n As stormy weather ramps up across Florida<\/strong>, it\u2019s already led to dangerous conditions. On Saturday<\/strong>, a lightning strike<\/strong> hit the St. Augustine Beach Pier<\/strong>, injuring three people, according to St. Johns County Fire Rescue<\/strong>.<\/p>\n One person was critically injured and airlifted<\/strong> to a trauma center. Another was taken to a local hospital with less serious injuries. A third person declined to be transported after being evaluated.<\/p>\n The strike happened on the afternoon of July 12<\/strong>, just two days after a separate lightning incident claimed the lives of two teenagers<\/strong> on a fishing trip in Southeast Georgia<\/strong>. The St. Augustine pier<\/strong> was briefly closed following the strike but appeared to suffer only minor structural damage. Emergency officials haven\u2019t said whether the victims had attempted to seek shelter before the lightning hit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Florida in the crosshairs as rain and potential tropical system loom FORT MYERS, Fla. \u2013 The Sunshine State is in for a stretch of very un-sunny weather this week as meteorologists track a developing low-pressure system that could soak parts of Florida with inches of rain and potentially grow into something tropical once it reaches […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5941,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5940","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n