FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ Showers and thunderstorms increased Friday in the tropical system approaching Florida, but it appears South Florida will see nothing this weekend but some gusts and heavy rain.
The National Hurricane Center's forecast showed Broward and Palm Beach counties to be outside the area that could see a tropical depression or tropical storm. At risk now are the extreme tip of the peninsula, the Florida Keys and a narrow strip along the west coast.
Although little strengthening is expected in the next two days, the system will reach more favorable areas for organizing and developing early next week. The hurricane center gave it a 30 percent chance of organizing into a tropical depression or tropical storm over the next two days and a 60 percent chance over the next five days.
While the possibility of a direct hit from a tropical storm has diminished, the hurricane center's advisory says "gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall are likely over portions of the Bahamas, and will likely spread into parts of South Florida and the Florida Keys over the weekend." Some areas could see 3 to 6 inches of rain, most likely beginning Sunday. The National Weather Service in Miami said at a Friday briefing that South Florida could see "significant flooding."
Anticipating the rain, the South Florida Water Management District announced Thursday it was lowering water levels in canals from mid-Broward County to Miami-Dade County to maximize the capacity to absorb water and prevent flooding. In addition, election officials are encouraging primary voters to cast their ballots at early voting sites as they monitor the storm's progress.
