Humidity to fuel Florida downpours through the weekend, raising flood and travel threats
Hundreds of flights were delayed across Miami, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale as thunderstorms developed Thursday.
Humidity to fuel Florida downpours through weekend, raising flood and travel threats
Millions of people across Florida face days of thunderstorms and heavy downpours through the weekend as oppressive humidity fuels repeated storms, creating a flash flood threat while pushing feels-like temperatures to nearly 115 degrees in some parts of the state. A slow-moving weather front that's draped above the Panhandle and North Florida will trigger daily afternoon thunderstorms as it sags south slowly through the weekend.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Millions of people across Florida face days of thunderstorms and heavy downpours through the weekend as oppressive humidity fuels repeated storms, creating a flash flood threat while pushing feels-like temperatures to nearly 115 degrees in some parts of the state.
A slow-moving weather front that's draped above the panhandle and North Florida will trigger daily afternoon thunderstorms as it sags south slowly through the weekend.
Air temperatures will climb into the mid and upper 90s ahead of the storms, which will push heat index values up to 115 across parts of the panhandle, with near-triple-digit heat indices across Central Florida.
The stormy weather is also snarling air travel. Hundreds of flights were delayed across Miami, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale as thunderstorms developed Thursday.
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a Level 1 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms across the panhandle and North Florida, including Tallahassee and Jacksonville Thursday.
Damaging wind gusts are expected to be the main hazard.
Heading toward the weekend, localized flash flood threats will increase as storms repeatedly track over the same area.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, some places could pick up 1 to 2 inches of rain within a short period of time.
"Rain totals of 3 to 5 inches are possible across parts of Central and Northern Florida through Sunday, with isolated higher amounts over 5 inches," the FOX Forecast Center said.
However, widespread flash flooding is not expected as the rain is expected to fall over a number of days.
Storms could still interrupt beach trips with lightning, heavy rain and gusty winds.
WHAT IS THE HEAT INDEX AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOUR HEALTH?
The rainfall will be beneficial in parts of the state that are still experiencing severe to extreme drought conditions.