Much of Florida is experiencing its annual rainy season as a tropical weather disruption from the Gulf of Mexico has caused flooded roads and tornado watches, but so far there have been no major damages or injuries.
Florida's rainy season begins around June, kicking off the six-month hurricane season, which is expected to be the most active in recent memory. The National Hurricane Center said the disturbance did not reach cyclone status and had only a slight chance of becoming a tropical system after crossing Florida and exiting into the Atlantic Ocean.
“Regardless of the evolving conditions, heavy rainfall is expected to continue across parts of the Florida peninsula over the next few days,” the hurricane center said on its website Wednesday.
Florida has already seen rain and wind this week, particularly in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas. About 6 inches (15 centimeters) of rain fell in Miami on Tuesday, and 7 inches (17 centimeters) fell in Miami Beach, according to the National Weather Service. Hollywood, just south of Fort Lauderdale, saw about 5 inches (12 centimeters) of rain.
Rain is expected for the rest of the week, with the National Weather Service in Miami extending a flood watch through Thursday, with some places potentially receiving up to another half a foot (15 centimetres).
Much of the western part of the state has been in the grip of a long-term drought, but it also got significant rainfall there: In Sarasota, about 6.5 inches (16.5 centimeters) of rain fell at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport on Tuesday, the weather service said, and flood warnings were issued for those areas as well.
The heavy rains come amid predictions of a stronger than normal hurricane season.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts an 85% chance of an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season, predicting between 17 and 25 named storms, including up to 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes, over the coming months. An average season has 14 named storms.
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