Orlando, FL – A developing area of low pressure offshore the Southeast U.S. coast is set to bring heavy rain and possible minor flooding to Florida through late next week, putting residents from Orlando to Tampa and the Panhandle on alert.
According to the National Weather Service in Melbourne, this system holds a low (20%) chance of becoming a tropical depression as it moves westward over the Florida peninsula and into the Gulf of Mexico. Regardless of its tropical development, forecasters warn of locally heavy rainfall and increased flood risk in central, north, and western Florida, especially in low-lying and urban areas.
Cities including Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Gainesville, and the I-4 corridor may see persistent showers and pockets of standing water on roads. Emergency management officials urge Floridians and visitors to avoid flooded streets, check drainage near homes, and keep mobile devices charged in case of power outages…