Heat index could hit 110 across South and Southwest Florida today
Cheryl McCloudUSA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
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The tropics continue to stay quiet, thanks in part to wind shear and Saharan dust, both of which help prevent tropical cyclones from developing and strengthening.
But a tropical wave approaching Florida could bring rain that could affect not only your weekend plans but impact the start of the work week, according to AccuWeather.
First, a wave of Saharan dust is expected to arrive in South Florida Saturday morning and move north, arriving around Cape Canaveral by Sunday. The dust is expected to be thickest in South Florida, dissipating as it moves north.
On Sunday, a tropical wave is expected to approach the Florida peninsula, bringing rain and thunderstorms which could last several days, according to AccuWeather.
No disturbances were noted on the tropical outlook map this morning, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center, indicating no tropical cyclones are expected over the next several days.
The Hurricane Center is monitoring three tropical waves.
The peak of hurricane season runs from mid-August through mid-October. If your hurricane supplies are running low, or you haven't started an emergency kit, Florida's next sales tax holiday the end of August can help you save money.
Possible impact of tropical wave on Florida
A tropical wave is expected to approach the Florida peninsula Sunday, bringing downpours and gusty thunderstorms. A couple of waterspouts could occur, according to AccuWeather.
"While we do not expect this system to organize and strengthen, it will bring locally heavy rain to Florida from as early as Sunday to perhaps as long as Tuesday in some areas," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said.
"As the system pushes northwestward across the Florida Peninsula early next week, more numerous showers and thunderstorms will break out. This can lead to localized urban flooding and gusty thunderstorms, perhaps capable of triggering sporadic power outages," AccuWeather said.
Florida weather radar: Track storms as they move across state
How long will tropics remain quiet?
"There is a lot of dry air and dust moving off of Africa and spreading across the Atlantic" DaSilva said.
"With all the dust and dry air around, it will make it very difficult for anything to develop. There are signs that at the very end of the month and into the start of August, the dry air may begin to back off and atmospheric conditions are looking a little more favorable for tropical development."
"The favorable conditions that yielded Beryl are likely to return at some point in August, and that will probably yield an extended burst of hurricane activity," said Dr. Ryan Truchelut, chief meteorologistat WeatherTiger.
"WeatherTiger’s real-time forecast remains for around twice the amount of storm activity in a normal hurricane season."
Truchelut works with the USA TODAY Network-Florida to provide the latest storm information Florida residents need.
The next storm of the season will be Debby.
Extreme heat continues across Florida. See weather watches, warnings
Portions of Southeast, South, Southwest Florida: Head index of 105-110 expected today.
Counties under a heat advisory include:
- Glades
- Hendry
- Palm Beach County
- Collier County
- Broward County
- Miami-Dade County
- Monroe
What is NOAA tracking in Atlantic basin?
The National Hurricane Center said no tropical cyclone activity is expected over the next several days.
Elsewhere in the tropics, the National Hurricane Center is monitoring three tropical waves. Here's the latest update from the NHC as of 2 p.m. July 19:
- Tropical wave 1: A tropical wave in the eastern Atlantic is moving west at 11 to 17 mph.
- Tropical wave 2: A tropical wave in the eastern Caribbean is moving west at 23 to 28 mph.
- Tropical wave 3: A tropical wave in the western Caribbean is moving west at 23 mph.
Who is likely to be impacted?
A tropical wave is expected to bring tropical moisture to Florida starting Sunday.
Forecasters urge all residents to continuemonitoring the tropics and to always be prepared. That advice is particularly important for what is expected to be a very active hurricane season.
When is next Florida hurricane tax-free supplies holiday?
Save on hurricane supplies between Aug. 24 and Sept. 6. This will be the final tax-free holiday for 2024 when it comes to emergency supplies and it comes during the busiest period of the hurricane season.
Can't afford a generator or weeks of food? Here are the basics you should have on hand.
Eligible items included in the tax-free holidayinclude:
- Aportable generatorused to provide light or communications or preserve food in the event of a power outage with a sales price of $3,000 or less.
- A tarp or other flexible waterproof sheeting with a sales price of $100 or less.
- An item normally sold as, or generally advertised as, a ground anchor system or tie-down kit with a sales price of $100 or less.
- A smoke detector or smoke alarm with a sales price of $70 or less.
- A fire extinguisher with a sales price of $70 or less.
- A carbon monoxide detector with a sales price of $70 or less.
- A nonelectric food storage cooler with a sales price of $60 or less.
- A portable power bank with a sales price of $60 or less.
- A gas or diesel fuel tank with a sales price of $50 or less.
- A portable self-powered radio, two-way radio, or weather-band radio with a sales price of $50 or less.
- A package of AA-cell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt, or 9-volt batteries, excluding automobile and boat batteries, with a sales price of $50 or less.
- A portable self-powered light source (powered by battery, solar, hand-crank, or gas) with a sales price of $40 or less, including: flashlights, lanterns and candles.
- Eligible light sources and radios qualify for the exemption, even if electrical cords are included in the purchase.
- Reusable ice (ice packs) with a sales price of $20 or less.
➤See full list of items, including pet and cleaning supplies, exempt from sales tax
When is the Atlantic hurricane season?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
When is the peak of hurricane season?
The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
National Hurricane Center map: What are forecasters watching now?
Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center include:
Interactive map: Hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed near your city
Excessive rainfall forecast
What's next?
We will continue to update our tropical weather coverage daily. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for ourspecial subscription offers here.