To an already soaked Southwest Florida’s list of potential concerns, add this: There’s some messy tropical weather schlepping through the western Caribbean that might bring a whole lot more rain.
For now, it’s too sloppy and too far away to predict how much, or if it’ll turn into a more serious storm.
“At this point, it’s just hard to say,” said Miami-based National Weather Service Forecaster Shawn Bhatti. His territory includes Collier County , recently swiped by Hurricane Helene.
The message from Sanibel Mayor Richard Johnson: You can’t be too careful.
“As we recover from last week’s major storm event, please remember that we are still in the midst of hurricane season,” he said in a release. “Please continue to pay attention to information from meteorologists and local authorities, and make sure your hurricane plan is ready in case Mother Nature sends another storm our way.”
Saturation, storm fatigue and sandbags
Many in the region aren’t taking any chances. After Hurricane Helene flooded barrier islands, as well as historic downtown Fort Myers and Naples, people are understandably on edge about the chance of more.