SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) -Estimated rainfall totals reached up to 12 inches Monday in parts of inland Florida, and river and stream flooding is ongoing.
The heaviest totals fell near Avon Park and Sebring in Highlands County, and in east Hardee and DeSoto counties.
Flooding and river forecast
A First Alert Weather Day is in effect Tuesday for inland counties only. Rivers are still expected to rise, even though rainfall Tuesday is not forecast to match the totals of the past 48 hours. Storms are still expected.
Water that fell Monday is receding and washing into the Peace River and Horse Creek.
Additional moisture is entering the southern part of Highlands County and is expected to move into Hardee and DeSoto counties near Arcadia.
Additional rainfall will continue to cause some flooding for our inland Counties especially along the Peace River and Horse Creek in Desoto County(WWSB)
A severe flood warning was in effect earlier for the area. The warning has since changed to a flood warning, which means flooding is ongoing and could get worse as more rain is expected.
The Peace River is expected to crest just west of Arcadia on Thursday evening. About 60 homes could flood.
Record rainfall in Sarasota
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport recorded 1.45 inches of rain on Nov. 2, a record for the date.
Coastal locations are not expected to see the same impact for now. Sarasota and Manatee counties have a slight chance of showers Monday evening. Winds are out of the southeast at 15 to 20 mph, and tropical moisture continues to move in.
Tuesday forecast
Showers are possible late Monday evening and again Tuesday morning. The morning commute and school drop-off are expected to be okay.
Scattered storms are forecast Tuesday afternoon, with the heaviest activity inland late in the day. Voting conditions are expected to be okay, with late-day storms possible. Rain is expected to taper off after 6 or 7 p.m. Some places could see an additional inch.
Conditions are forecast to dry out for the most part Wednesday and Thursday, with a lower chance of late-day storms on both days. Highs are forecast in the upper 70s to low 80s over the weekend.
Boaters can expect a moderate chop. Winds and seas will be higher near storms, with seas of 2 to 3 feet.
Good chance for scattered late day storms on Tuesday(WWSB)East coast flooding and tropical outlook
A severe flood warning is in effect near West Palm Beach on Florida’s east coast. Rainfall totals from West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale to Fort Pierce could reach 20 inches before the event ends, and flooding is occurring there.
A system east of the Bahamas has a 30% chance of developing into a tropical storm. Nothing is expected over the next couple of days, but conditions could become more favorable. If it forms, it is expected to track east because of frontal boundaries moving through. A front is forecast to move through Monday of next week. If the system receives a name, it will be Kyle.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs through the end of November. Elsewhere in the tropics, no development is expected. Wind shear is present over the Caribbean.
This stormy pattern we had these past couple of days may become a common occurrence over the next few months(WWSB)
The jet stream is expected to stay active, with low pressure systems forecast to develop through the winter. Those systems could bring heavy rain and severe storms.
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