WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The National Hurricane Center said Thursday Potential Tropical Cyclone One is expected to bring drenching rain to South Florida on Friday and Saturday.
According to WPTV First Alert Weather chief meteorologist Steve Weagle, the system has the potential to develop into a tropical depression or tropical storm as it moves closer to the Florida Peninsula.
As of 11 p.m. Thursday, the system was on the northern tip of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph with higher gusts.
For the viewing area, Weagle said heavy rain will develop Friday with the heaviest overnight Friday into Saturday morning, before a lot of the rain moves out on Saturday afternoon.
"Some big, big rains and tropical downpours, which can cause a flooding threat very quickly," Weagle said. "We could see upwards of five to eight inches of rain, maybe even locally higher amounts, before it's all said and done."
Weagle said the system is expected to become a tropical storm as it moves across Florida.
WPTV First Alert Weather meteorologist Steve Villanueva said most of the computer models are in "very good agreement," taking the system through south-central Florida on Saturday before eventually dissipating in the Atlantic Ocean.
Sunday is looking much better with drier conditions and low rain chances.
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According to the National Hurricane Center, a tropical storm watch is in effect for:
- West coast of Florida, south of the Middle of Longboat Key
- East coast of Florida, south of the Volusia/Brevard County Line
- Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas
- Lake Okeechobee
- Florida Bay
- Cuban provinces of Matanzas, Mayabeque, Havana, Artemisa, Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth
A tropical storm warning was in effect for a portion of the Florida Keys and part of Florida's Gulf coast.
