Wet Weekend Forecast – Parts of Florida will see rounds of rain and thunderstorms this weekend, and that could make it tougher for families to get ready for back to school. The unsettled weather is an inconvenient time for parents wrapping up last-minute shopping, students attending weekend activities, and school districts preparing for the return to classrooms. In areas where there are periods of heavy rainfall, repeated storms could also cause localised flooding and difficult driving conditions.
Heavy Rain Looms Over Weekend Plans
Forecasters are monitoring a moisture-rich weather pattern that could produce a number of showers and thunderstorms over the weekend. Rain may not be continuous through the day, but repeated storms could bring short periods of heavy downpours.
Stronger storms could put a damper on outdoor activities, shopping trips, sports practices and other back-to-school events. Florida’s summer storm season means conditions can change quickly so families planning travel this weekend may want to allow for extra time and keep an eye on updated forecasts.
Back-to-School Travel May Become More Difficult
The timing is particularly important as many families are preparing for the start of school. Heavy rain coupled with the presence of more cars on the road near shopping plazas and main thoroughfares can lead to slower, more dangerous driving conditions.
Heavy rain can quickly create standing water on poorly draining roads. Drivers should slow down, follow other vehicles at a greater distance and never try to drive through flooded roads. Even water that looks shallow can be hiding a road problem, or it can be deeper than it looks.
Localised Flooding Still a Risk
And if thunderstorms repeatedly hit the same neighbourhoods, it can increase the risk of localised flooding, especially in urban areas where pavement doesn’t allow water to be absorbed as quickly.
Communities that are low-lying and sensitive to drainage are often the first to experience problems. Residents should pay attention to flood advisories and warnings, National Weather Service officials said, because heavy rain can easily overwhelm drainage systems in a short amount of time.
Florida Thunderstorms Can Bring More Than Rain
Rainfall is probably the biggest concern, but in the summer, thunderstorms can also produce frequent lightning and gusty winds. Lightning is still a big danger even if a storm doesn’t get severe.
Thunder means go indoors, not wait until the rain is heavy for those outdoors for outdoor activities. Another wrinkle to weekend plans could be isolated power outages or small tree limbs knocked down by stronger thunderstorms.
Families advised to check forecasts before kids return to school
Parents and students can prevent last minute problems by checking the local forecast before leaving home. Shopping for school supplies, orientation events, extracurricular activities and other preparations might have to be moved around periods of heavier rainfall.
In Florida, the weather can vary greatly over relatively short distances, so one community can be inundated with rain while another nearby is experiencing only a passing shower. Therefore, updated radar and official alerts are especially useful during active weather periods.
Sources
- WESH 2 News – Back-to-school forecast, weekend weather coverage for Central Florida
- National Weather Service Melbourne – Official Weather Forecasts Central Florida Weather Conditions & Local Storm Info
- National Weather Service – Safety tips for floods, thunderstorms, lightning and severe weather
- NOAA – US weather, rain and thunderstorm data
- Florida – Department of Education – Florida school and back-to-school info
