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July 3, 2009

Fireworks should fly without much threat of rain

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Fourth of July fireworks should fills the skies on Saturday night without much threat of rain, the National Weather Service in Miami said.

During the day on Saturday, the chance of rain is 50 percent, easing to 30 percent in the evening, meaning there could be some scattered showers or even a thunderstorm.

"By 9 p.m., most everything should have moved offshore," said weather service specialist Bob Ebaugh. "So there's a good possibility you'll see fireworks."

Otherwise, afternoon storms are likely throughout the long holiday weekend. The chance of rain is 60 percent today and 40 percent on Sunday.

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July 2, 2009

Storms still possible into the evening

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Update as of 4 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood advisory for southeast Broward, mainly Hollywood and Hallandale, as well as northeast Miami-Dade County through 5:30 p.m. today.

That comes after storms produced up to 2 inches of rain in that area since 2:30 p.m. today, flooding some streets and low-lying areas.

Original blog:

The strong storms that buffeted South Florida this afternoon for the most part have moved offshore, the National Weather Service said.

Just the same, isolated showers and thunderstorms could continue through this evening, particularly in Palm Beach County, said meteorologist Gordon Strassberg.

"We can't rule out that things won't re-fire again," he said.

Earlier this afternoon, the weather service received a report of a tornado forming near North Miami Beach and issued a tornado warning. However, the report was unconfirmed, Strassberg said.

"We didn't receive any reports of damage," he said.

The unsettled weather is the result of tropical moisture flowing into the area combined with a strong sea breeze, Strassberg said.

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Less rain, more heat today

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We’ll probably see rain again today – but also more sun.

That means more heat.

Today’s forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Afternoon temperatures are expected to be in the low 90s with heat index values as high as 105 degrees.

This evening, the rain chance eases to 30 percent with low temperatures in the upper 70s.

June rain: As you might guess, June was wetter than usual.

A National Weather Service recap shows most areas received more than 10 inches of rain, or about 1 to 3 inches more than average.

Miami Beach was swamped; it saw more than 17 inches, or almost 11 inches more than normal.

Curiously, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport received 6.86 inches, or 3.15 inches below normal.

Someone must be holding an umbrella over that particular rain gauge.

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July 1, 2009

Rain shouldn't wash out the Fourth

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You know how it works; there are no guarantees when it comes to the weather.

Yet forecasters think the widespread rains of the past few days should taper off by the weekend and you should be able to see fireworks under mostly dry conditions on Saturday night, July 4.

Today's forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies and a 60 percent chance of rain. Highs in the low 90s and lows in the mid 70s.

The rain chance is expected to ease to 50 percent on Thursday and 40 percent on Friday.

The weekend should be relatively nice with a 30 percent chance of rain on both Saturday and Sunday.

"Then, unfortunately for the people who love sunshine, it could be raining again by Monday," said meteorologist Andy Tingler of the National Weather Service in Miami.


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June 30, 2009

Soggy afternoon ahead

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We've seen a few breaks of sun today, and we'll probably see a few more.

But overall, it should continue to be a rather drizzly gray day, the National Weather Service in Miami said.

"We'll continue have showers on and off through the afternoon and into the early evening," said meteorologist Andy Tingler.

Tingler said some storms earlier today generated wind gusts up to 40 mph, particularly along the coast.

While the heavy rains should let up by this evening, there could be some scattered showers and thunderstorms before midnight, he said.

Yet more showers are expected on Wednesday.

The rainy conditions are the result of tropical moisture flowing in from the Gulf of Mexico combined with a cold front descending across the state, Tingler said.

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More rain, storms on the way

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Expect another soggy and at times stormy day today, the result of tropical moisture streaming out of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.

The forecast calls for an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, and some of the rain could be heavy. Highs in the upper 80s, lows in the mid 70s.

Again, the main reason we’re so waterlogged this week: The remnants of that tropical disturbance in the Gulf continue to stream in this direction.

We'll probably see more rain, clouds and storms on Wednesday, the National Weather Service in Miami said.

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June 29, 2009

Tropical disturbance is dead but its rain lives on

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You know that tropical thing in the Gulf? It's gone.

But as anyone who forged through this morning's rush hour knows, it's still pushing a lot of rain toward South Florida.

Expect that rain to continue on and off through the day and into the evening, the National Weather Service in Miami said.

At times it will be heavy, said meteorologist Dan Gregoria.

"Most of the showers and storms will contain very heavy rain and the potential for gusty winds, up to 40 mph," he said.

Officially, today's forecast calls for an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s, lows in the mid 70s.

Gregoria said the rain likely will continue for the next few days because of the "deep tropical moisture" flowing toward Florida out of the southwest.

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Rainy and hot today

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Although the tropical disturbance in the southern Gulf of Mexico appears to be fizzling, it still was expected to produce 1 to 2 inches of rain over South Florida today and Tuesday.

"We’re going to have a very moist atmosphere," said weather specialist Bob Ebaugh of the National Weather Service in Miami. "You’ll have places where you could have heavy rain."

The forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies and a 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the low 90s, lows in the mid 70s.

Tuesday also could be stormy, as tropical moisture from the sloppy expansive system flows this way.

The disturbance was drifting northwest toward Mexico or Texas. On Sunday, the National Hurricane Center in Miami-Dade County gave it a low chance of developing.


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June 28, 2009

Tropical disturbance unlikely to develop

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The tropical disturbance in the southern Gulf of Mexico still has a chance of developing.

"But it's a very low chance," hurricane specialist Richard Pasch of the National Hurricane Center in Miami-Dade County said.

As of 2 p.m. today, the system was little more than a sloppy mass of clouds and low pressure, slowly drifting northwest toward mainland Mexico or Texas.

Just the same, the hurricane center has a hurricane hunter aircraft ready to investigate it on Monday "if necessary," Pasch said.

"It's a very, very weak trough," he said. "But, given that it's hurricane season and it's out over the Gulf,- we just need to keep an eye on it."

The fringes of system were expected to produce showers over South Florida today through Tuesday, the National Weather Service in Miami said.

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June 27, 2009

Tropical disturbance expected to bring rain to Florida

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The tropical disturbance in the western Caribbean doesn’t look like it will turn into a serious threat for South Florida. Just the same, it would be smart to keep an eye on it.

Though models are far from in agreement at this point, most predict it will aim north or west over the next two or three days, toward Texas or Louisiana.

Some intensity models say it could strengthen into a weak Category 1 hurricane or a strong tropical storm along the way. That assumes it will survive long enough to move into the Gulf of Mexico.

If it does, it will find a favorable environment, as the wind shear is light and the waters warm, forecasters say. If it reaches tropical storm strength, it would be christened Ana and become the first named storm of the Atlantic season.

The National Hurricane Center plans to dispatch a hurricane hunter aircraft on Sunday – if necessary – to investigate it. As of 2 p.m. today, the center said it has a 30 to 50 percent chance of developing into a depression a storm over the next two days.

One way or the other, the system is expected to bring showers and storms to South Florida, the National Weather Service in Miami said.

How much rain depends on its ultimate path and how strong it gets, said meteorologist Barry Baxter. For now, it is expected to produce about 2 inches between Sunday and Tuesday, which would be nothing unusual, he said.

“It could bring some heavy rainfall,” he said. “But it shouldn’t be a wipeout.”

The disturbance has been producing heavy rains and gusty winds over Mexico’s Yucatan and western Cuba.

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About the Author

KEN KAYE is a veteran journalist, having worked more than 30 years as a reporter, editor and columnist... < More >

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