Tropical development or not, Florida facing wet week

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On Monday, a large area of showers and storms associated with a broad area of low pressure extended from Cuba up through Central Florida. As this area meanders northward through the eastern Gulf over the next few days, there’s a low chance that it may start to take on some tropical characteristics. 

As of the afternoon, the National Hurricane Center says there is a 20 percent chance of tropical development in the next two days, and 30 percent in the next five.  That's slightly lower than yesterday's odds. But regardless of tropical development, the outcome is essentially going to be the same – heavy, but beneficial, rains across much of the state of Florida.

“We’re just going to be sitting in this warm, humid air mass all week long,” warned FOX 13 meteorologist Dave Osterberg.

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Forecast models call for a good 3 to 5 inches across a lot of the state over the next week, with some isolated areas picking up even more.

This rainfall should wipe out a lot of the drought issues we’ve had in certain areas this spring, wrote FOX 13 meteorologist Tyler Eliasen. The KBDI Drought Index as of Sunday showed a significant rainfall deficit in central and especially southwestern Florida.