Florida Public Radio Emergency Network (FPREN) Storm Center
It’s been an incredibly busy week with strong storms, specifically across South Florida, where there is plenty of instability and lots of moisture at bay. The pattern is starting to shift as the trough will finally move away from the region and drier air will filter across much of the state.
The Panhandle and North Florida have been under mostly clear skies and slightly lower humidity. Some showers and thunderstorms have affected parts of Central Florida but have been limited. High pressure will continue to be in place and will sink deeper into Florida, which will allow more stable air, and drier air, to dominate much of the weekend.
For the northern three-quarters of Florida, the skies will be mostly sunny and highs will be in the high 80s or low 90s. Across South Florida, there will be storms developing on Friday and Saturday afternoon with the typical drivers the heat igniting the sea breeze which sparks afternoon thunderstorms. Storm coverage will be focused mainly across inland areas, with a few storms moving toward the metro areas later.
King Tides in control – what are they?
King tides are the highest tides of the year. These happen when the Sun and the Moon are the closest to the Earth, aligned. This alignment increases the pull of water and brings coastal floods. The already elevated sea levels are elevated further along Florida’s coasts. We see more of an impact across the East Coast of Florida and the Southwest region, but there could still be some higher-than-normal levels across the west coast of Florida happening on Friday.
In South Florida, the King Tides are notorious for causing chaos In cities like Miami Beach, Pinecrest, and Downtown Miami, where seawater comes out from the sewers flooding the streets. OF course, these waters are mixed with toxins and bacteria. The saltwater also contributes to cars becoming rusted underneath as many cars travel through these waters. Like any other flooding situation, it is best to remain away from flooded roads and make sure to never cross them while walking.
The king tides are expected to continue through the weekend. A coastal flood advisory is in place and it is likely to be extended through the weekend along the East Coast of Florida. Look for the high tide times in your area, flooding will be the highest at those times, and water levels often decrease 3 hours from the high tide time.
