Floridians might want to develop a Plan B for outdoor festivities this Memorial Day weekend -- we're looking at a drencher, and maybe worse.
As of 3 p.m. Thursday, the National Hurricane Center was giving Invest 90L a 90 percent chance of development in the Gulf of Mexico. No matter how or if it develops into something more menacing, it will bring a lot of rain to Florida and the Gulf Coast, most of it Sunday and Monday.
The important question will be where the moisture feed on the east side of the storm -- the Florida side -- sets up.
The general pattern will be similar to the one that caused the extended period of rain over South Florida last week, forecasters say, though this one will include a stronger area of low pressure.
Gov. Rick Scott issued an advisory on Invest 90L from the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The governor said he will continue to be in constant communication with state and local emergency management officials and state agency leaders to make sure Florida is prepared to respond to any potential storm impacts.
“... It is absolutely critical that every Florida family is fully prepared for potential impacts. In Florida, we know how unpredictable severe weather systems can be and while the Gulf Coast and Panhandle are expected to receive the largest impact from this storm, all Floridians should be prepared. Even if your home is not in the direct path, everyone should be ready to follow your emergency plan, which you can build at FLGetAPlan.com, and stay vigilant to weather alerts and updates from local officials.
“We know that many families have travel plans this Memorial Day weekend but everyone has to put safety first and remember to never drive in dangerous conditions or through standing water. ..."
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has prepared the region's massive flood control system to move water and protect residents from flooding forecast over the next five to seven days.
"Much of South Florida, including the regions that will see the heaviest rainfall over the Memorial Day weekend, have already experienced an above-average amount of rainfall for the past few weeks," said SFWMD Chief Engineer John Mitnik. "Our staff and our flood control system have been hard at work moving flood waters away from communities. The District will continue this work as the storm approaches and passes over South Florida."
Local daily maximum rainfall totals are forecast to be as high as four inches per day from Friday until Wednesday in areas such as Fort Myers in Lee County and the Big Cypress Basin in Collier County. Coastal areas of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties are forecast to see local maximum rainfall totals as high as three inches per day. Slightly less rainfall is projected for the Treasure Coast and Kissimmee River basins.
SFWMD says, due to the interconnected system of drainage canals in South Florida, flood control is a shared responsibility between the District, county and city governments, local drainage districts, homeowners associations and residents. "As this storm system approaches, residents should familiarize themselves with how to contact their homeowners association, municipality or local drainage district responsible for their property's drainage."
A Local Contact Tool to help residents determine the local drainage authority that represents their area can be found on SFWMD's website. Click here.
"If you find yourself in a potential flooding situation, make sure you notify the proper agency that controls the canal, retention pond or body of water affecting your residence," continued Mitnik. "As water managers, we urge citizens to get in contact with their homeowners association, local drainage district or county in charge of their secondary water conveyance system. If you are on the regional system controlled by SFWMD, then notify us as well."
As of Thursday, an average of 7.74 inches of rain had already fallen this month throughout South Florida, 281 percent of the monthly average rainfall or nearly 5 inches above average, SFWMD reported. "The Southwest Coast, where the heaviest rainfall is forecast over this coming weekend, has already been saturated with 5.72 inches of rain, which is 3 inches above average."
