Downpours for the Tropics, South Florida
April 28, 2012; 5:45 AM
A developing storm system over the Caribbean will produce downpours from Hispaniola and Cuba to the Bahamas and South Florida into the weekend. Despite the start of hurricane season still over one month away, the storm will have to be monitored for possible tropical development.
The weather system taking shape over the northwestern Caribbean will direct a moist flow of air this weekend into southern Florida.
The developing feature is associated with a pool of cool air at upper levels of the atmosphere and the tail end of an old frontal zone. This creates instability and leads to rising columns of air, producing showers and thunderstorms.
Sometimes these type of features can change character and switch from a cold-core system to a warm-core, tropical storm during the warm weather season. Although it is unlikely, the storm will have an approximate 36-hour window for possible development in the southern Gulf of Mexico either Sunday or Monday.
"It cannot be ruled out," said Expert Senior Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski in reference to the development of a warm-core storm.
The effect of the rather large system will be to bring drenching rain across the northern Caribbean, including Cuba. Eventually, downpours will reach into part of South Florida and the Bahamas this weekend.
The overall intensity of the downpours and the extent of the rain will depend on how strong and organized the feature becomes. There is the potential for a couple of inches of rain, where the downpours persist or repeat.
The rain is certainly needed as it is occurring during a dry part of the year and much of this region is experiencing abnormally dry to drought conditions. However, vacationers and those with outdoor plans may not be happy with the forecast and the atmosphere's plans.