Could South Florida look like Hollywood did in June 2024 from a possible week’s worth of daily rain in Miami-Dade and Broward starting Sept. 21, 2026? The forecast calls for the second wet week in a row.
Matias J. Ocner
mocner@miamiherald.com
When the high-temperature forecast and the chance for rain numbers start to merge, you know it’s going to be a washout.
That’s the scenario the National Weather Service in Miami’s Sammy Hadi and CBS News Miami meteorologist Lissette Gonzalez have for South Florida this week — the second week in a row of daily downpours.
Highs are expected in the upper 80s and the rain chances for the week through Sunday hover around the 80% range — especially Wednesday when the weather service puts storm chances at 88%. That’s higher than the 86 degree temperature forecast.
Rainy days and Mondays and a whole week’s worth.
Hadi and Gonzalez call for a risk of flooding because of heavy downpours Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. There’s a marginal risk of excessive rainfall for each afternoon through Wednesday, according to the weather service.
“Most likely rainfall amounts of 2-6 inches are forecast over the next seven days with a reasonable worst case — 1 in 10 chance — scenario of receiving 6 to 15 inches of rainfall through next Monday,” Hadi said about South Florida’s week ahead.
“You’ll need those umbrellas. The kids will need those rain jackets as many head back to school tomorrow after the holiday today,” Gonzalez said on Monday morning, referring to school closures due to Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. “It is looking soggy and unsettled through the rest of the week and into the weekend.”
When the observant celebrating Yom Kippur break the fast around dinner time Monday, rain chances in the Miami area between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. will be about 50%.
All of South Florida faces the same forecast, but Fort Lauderdale could be the wettest spot, National Weather Service meteorologist George Rizzuto said in his Monday report.
“The Weather Prediction Center is forecasting most likely rainfall amounts of 5-7 inches for the City of Fort Lauderdale over the next seven days with a reasonable worst case — 1 in 10 chance scenario — of receiving 8-10 inches of rainfall through Saturday,” he said.
The reason? “A low-pressure system in the upper levels of the atmosphere is pumping in that deep tropical moisture and that is how juicy the atmosphere is right now,” Gonzalez said.
Timing for the wettest weather
Here’s the timing for the highest chance for rain and thunderstorms this week, according to the National Weather Service in Miami’s forecast points checker.
Monday: 70% between 2 and 3 p.m.Tuesday: 70% between 2 and 4 p.m. and again from 8 p.m. to midnight.Wednesday: 90% between 2 and 7 p.m.Thursday: 80% between 2 and 7 p.m.Friday: 70% between 2 and 7 p.m.Saturday: 70% between 2 and 7 p.m.Sunday: 60% between 2 and 7 p.m.Tropical storm Fay
National Hurricane Center map for Tropical Storm Fay on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. National Hurricane Center
Tropical storm Fay could have become the season’s first hurricane, but its chances have fallen, according to the National Hurricane Center. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 65 mph on Monday morning.
“Continued weakening is forecast, and Fay could degenerate to a post-tropical cyclone in a day or two,” said hurricane center forecaster John Cangialosi in Monday’s 9 a.m. advisory.
“Tropical Storm Fay is not a threat to South Florida,” CBS’ Gonzalez said Monday as the system is expected to decline in the open waters of the Atlantic into Thursday.
Looking on the bright side of a soggy weather forecast as predicted for the week of Sept. 21-27, 2026, in South Florida? After the daily deluges there could be rainbows, as seen on Thursday evening, Sept. 17, over the University of Miami pool deck. Howard Cohen hcohen@miamiherald.com
Miami Herald
Miami Herald consumer trends reporter Howard Cohen, a 2017 Media Excellence Awards winner, has covered pop music, theater, health and fitness, obituaries, municipal government, breaking news and general assignment. He started his career in the Features department at the Miami Herald in 1991. Cohen is an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Communication.
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