ORLANDO, Fla. – The latest drought monitor released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows worsening drought conditions throughout Central Florida.
Parts of Brevard and Osceola counties have now reached severe drought status.
Widespread relief, however, finally appears to be in sight.
By the middle of next week, tropical moisture from the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico is expected to surge into Florida.
While it’s still too far out for specifics, this looks to be the highest chance for widespread rain, several inches, since the early spring. The American GFS puts heavy across most of the Florida Peninsula next week with the heaviest rain focused in the Central Gulf.
The European model also depicts heavy rain through Central Florida next week.
Regardless, much-needed rain appears to be on the horizon.
Tropical development?
It is unclear at this time if a tropical system could develop during the surge of tropical moisture through the middle of June. At this stage of the game, take model output you see on social media with a grain of salt. The American GFS tends to spin up “phantom” storms in the Gulf of Mexico early in hurricane season that never materialize.
Disturbances, however, will be around and the water temperature is plenty warm enough to sustain a storm in the Caribbean or Gulf in mid-to-late June, so it is something to be mindful of late next week and into next weekend.
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