WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Potential Tropical Cyclone Four is moving over eastern Cuba Friday and is expected to strengthen into a tropical depression, then Tropical Storm Debby, and bring heavy rain and flooding to South Florida over the weekend.
A flood watch is in effect for Palm Beach County through Sunday evening. The watch is also in effect for Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
Tropical storm warnings are in effect along the southwest coast of Florida from East Cape Sable to Boca Grande.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for:
- The Florida Keys south of the Card Sound Bridge including the Dry Tortugas
- The southern coast of the Florida peninsula east of East Cape Sable to the Card Sound Bridge
- The west coast of the Florida peninsula north of Boca Grande to the mouth of the Suwannee River
The Treasure Coast is not under any watches or warnings.
TRACKING THE TROPICS: Hurricane Center | Hurricane Guide
The NHC said this wave is expected to develop into a tropical depression on Saturday as it moves across the Straits of Florida, followed by intensification into Tropical Storm Debby by Saturday night.
The wave has an 80% chance to develop over the next two days and a 90% chance over the next seven.
It's expected to move near or over Cuba throughout the day Friday, and then emerge over the Straits of Florida tonight or Saturday, then move near or over the west coast of Florida Saturday night through Sunday night.
"Clouds are bubbling up, indicating thunderstorm activity," WPTV First Alert Weather meteorologist Jennifer Correa said. "But it's still not confined, tight enough that there's a center."
Correa added that environmental conditions are expected to be conducive to additional development, and a tropical depression is likely to form this weekend over the Straits of Florida or eastern Gulf of Mexico near the Florida Peninsula.
Parts of Palm Beach County are under a "slight" risk of excessive rainfall, the second lowest tier, while the rest of our viewing area is under a "marginal" risk, the lowest tier.
"We are under a risk of excessive rainfall. Basically calling for scattered flash flooding," Correa said. "More than likely, the farther south you are, the heavier or the more accumulated rainfall you'll get."
Correa said parts of our area could pick up two to five inches of rainfall over the coming days.
Correa said the rain and storms will start to ramp up late in the morning on Saturday and continue into Sunday, before eventually weakening a bit on Monday.
"These scattered showers and thunderstorms are gonna come in almost in feeder bands," Correa said.
