Tropical cyclone activity is nearly three times more frequent in August over July, so it only makes sense that there are now multiple items of interest that the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network meteorologists are keeping their eyes on. The first tropical wave worth watching is moving west of the Cape Verde Islands in the far eastern Atlantic. Referred to as Invest 94, the National Hurricane Center says there is only a low chance of development with this system in the next five days. Cool water, dry air, and unfavorable upper-level conditions will make it very difficult for Invest 94 to move all the way across the Atlantic.
Closer to home, a weak area of low pressure has formed along a stalled front off the coast of North Carolina, but it is also unlikely to develop. Further south and west along this boundary, specifically across the northern half of Florida, heavy rain will be possible this weekend as tropical moisture remains in place and several rounds of downpours repeat over some of the same areas. While tropical storm activity is not anticipated to develop, tropical-like rainfall accumulations of 4 to 6 inches will be possible near the Nature Coast and Big Bend regions on Florida’s Gulf side.
