Disturbance likely to become Tropical Storm Philippe
TAMPA (FOX 13) - There’s another month of hurricane season left, and Mother Nature apparently hasn’t forgotten. A tropical weather system forming in the Caribbean Sea is expected to soak South Florida this weekend.
Friday afternoon, a Hurricane Hunter plane probing the weather system discovered winds near 40 mph but no defined center. That was enough for the National Hurricane Center to begin issuing advisories for the system, which would be named Philippe if and when tighter circulation forms.
That’s expected to happen Friday night or Saturday, so tropical storm warnings have been issued for parts of Cuba and the Bahamas.
Forecasters predict the system will move northeast towards Florida, bringing rain and wind.
“Regardless of development, this disturbance will be a big rainmaker for parts of South Florida and the Keys,” FOX 13 meteorologist Tyler Eliasen offered. “Widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected, with isolated higher amounts possible. Amounts will taper off quickly further north in the state.”