3-9-10   

Heavy rain and isolated severe weather possible across North Florida Wednesday night through Thursday with heavy rain

and strong storms possible across much of the Peninsula Thursday night and Friday…

Heavy rainfall could result in river rises across Northwest Florida…

Tuesday:

Approaching cold fronts will increase rain chances statewide through the remainder of the week. The first disturbance will pass over Florida on

Tuesday. However, energy with this system will be weak and only scattered areas of light showers will be possible Tuesday afternoon.

Otherwise, mostly cloudy skies are expected throughout the day, with highs reaching the upper 60s to low 70s across North Florida.

A second stronger disturbance will move east along the northern Gulf Coast Tuesday evening through Wednesday. This will result in higher

chances for scattered to numerous showers across much of Northwest Florida overnight. A few thunderstorms could be possible across mainly

western Panhandle areas, but severe weather is not expected. Lightning strikes and locally heavy rainfall will be the greatest threats.

Much of the Florida Peninsula should remain dry overnight, but a few showers may be possible along portions of the Florida East Coast.

Overnight lows will range from the upper 40s to upper 50s across North Florida.

Wednesday:

The second disturbance will continue eastward during the day on Wednesday with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms spreading

east across North Florida during the morning. Rain chances will increase substantially late Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning

as the third disturbance moves into the state. Expect numerous showers and storms across North Florida areas.

Many computer models suggest that this third disturbance will be stronger than the previous systems. As a result, there will be a higher chance

for heavy rainfall and severe weather across portions of the region. The greatest threat areas for these strong thunderstorms with heavy rainfall

will be across Northwest Florida Wednesday afternoon and evening, then encompassing all of North Florida during the overnight hours into

Thursday morning. The Storm Prediction Center has placed much of the Mississippi Valley as well as western portions of the Florida Panhandle

in a slight risk area for severe thunderstorm development on Wednesday, with strong thunderstorms possible along the remainder of the

Panhandle and Florida Big Bend through Wednesday night. The heaviest batch of rain will also come on Wednesday. Most areas that

receive rainfall in the Peninsula should accumulate relatively light amounts of less than ½ inch, but areas across Northwest Florida could see

a widespread 1-2 inches, though isolated locations could receive as much as 3 to 4 inches. This will certainly pose a risk for flooding of local

roadways and Flood Watches and Flash Flood Watches could be issued for portions of Northwest Florida late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

Clouds and rain will also keep overnight lows warm in the upper 50s and low 60s across North Florida.

Thursday:

The main band of showers and thunderstorms associated with the cold front crosses the North Florida region early Thursday morning.

The front should begin to exit the Panhandle area Thursday morning and be east of the Big Bend by mid-afternoon. However, skies should

remain partly to mostly cloudy with lingering showers possible through the afternoon. Temperatures will remain warm behind the front,

reaching the low to mid 70s during the afternoon.

Expect scattered showers and storms across the entire Peninsula as well as portions of the Florida Big Bend. Some storms

could be strong, but widespread severe weather is not currently expected. Warm afternoon temperatures in the mid 70s to low 80s

will keep the air rather humid, even outside of any rain activity. Rain chances will increase yet again statewide Thursday night as another area

of low pressure is forecast to develop and move into the northern Florida Peninsula ahead of a secondary cold front forecast to move east

across the state on Friday. Temperatures will remain warm statewide overnight, with lows forecast to be in the mid 50s to low 60s across

North Florida.

Friday:

The front will press eastward through the day, with a possible squall line of heavy rain and strong thunderstorms passing through

the state. However, the best chances for heavy rainfall and strong storms will shift southward across the central and southern Peninsula

during the afternoon and evening. Rain will gradually taper off across North Florida Friday afternoon, and gradually end.

Temperatures will remain above normal, ranging from the low to mid 70s along the North Florida coast to the upper 70s across

inland areas.