Downpours may ruin plans but provide drought relief in Florida this weekend

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

January 27, 2019, 12:32:14 PM EST

While they may threaten weekend and vacation plans, downpours will bring drought relief to the Florida Peninsula through Sunday night.

After rain spread across South Florida on Saturday, downpours are invading more of the Florida Peninsula to end the weekend.

Sunday will be a soggy day in Fort Myers, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Orlando, Daytona Beach and Jacksonville.

Heavy rain is not what football players and fans at the Pro Bowl want to hear.

Rain gear will definitely be needed by those attending the Pro Bowl or the attractions at the theme parks in Orlando that are not affected by wet weather.

Vacationers hoping to head to the beach and enjoy the milder waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean may have to plan other activities for the day.

For those who brave the rain, waterproof jackets should be worn as temperatures may stop short of reaching the 60-degree Fahrenheit mark along most of the I-4 corridor. A high within a degree or two of 70 is more common in late January.

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A chilly breeze can hold AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures close to 50.

Rain may only dampen Miami and the Florida Keys for a small fraction of Sunday before a line of heavier rain swings through at night.

Download the free AccuWeather app to find out when rain is anticipated in your community.

Thunderstorms can also rattle South Florida, and it is not out of the question for an isolated severe thunderstorm to produce damaging winds, hail and/or a brief tornado in addition to the downpours.

As evidenced this past Thursday, it only takes one violent thunderstorm to inflict significant damage on a community, even in the absence of a tornado.

Worse than ruining outdoor plans, the heavy rain could lead to localized flooding in urban and poor-drainage areas.

There can be a general 1-3 inches of rain across most of the peninsula (north of Miami) with the highest amounts occurring in between I-4 and I-75’s Alligator Alley.

Even in the absence of flooding, motorists should prepare for slower travel and some hazards. Downpours and spray from other vehicles can dramatically reduce visibility, and there will be a heightened risk of vehicles hydroplaning when traveling at highway speeds.

Airline passengers should prepare for potential disruptions, particularly for travelers flying out of the Orlando and Tampa areas.

Despite the hazards and inconveniences the downpours may bring, there is one advantage to the downpours targeting South Florida.

"South Florida is suffering from rainfall shortages, so it is in need of a good soaking," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski.

Moderate drought conditions were reported across most of South Florida when the United States Drought Monitor released its latest summary on Jan. 24. Drought conditions remained at severe levels from near West Palm Beach to Melbourne.

Above is the most recent report issued by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The last time West Palm Beach had a month with near- to above-normal rainfall was this past July. Prior to this weekend, the city’s airport has only recorded 41 percent of its normal 32.13 inches since Aug. 1, 2018.

Drier weather is expected to sweep back across Florida on Monday with the return of significant rainfall not on the horizon through the end of the month.

Temperatures may gradually rebound early in the week before a shot of fresh chilly air arrives at midweek.

Do you think rain is in the forecast? Make your prediction now and play Forecaster Challenge.