x
Breaking News
More () »

Tropical wave sets sight on Florida for Labor Day weekend

10Weather is keeping watch over the Caribbean as tropical moisture heads toward Florida by Labor Day
Credit: WTSP

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- It's been raining a good deal across Florida -- surprise, summertime! -- and it's about to become even wetter.

Showers and thunderstorms moving through the Caribbean are being watched for possible development into a tropical system by the beginning of next week after it enters the Gulf of Mexico.

Stay informed: Download the 10News app for breaking news and weather updates from the 10Weather team

Be prepared: Check your supplies, evacuation zone and more

Computers models were in some disagreement earlier this week, but things are starting to come into focus. While one forecast model (European model) was originally more aggressive in developing a potential tropical storm, it has now pulled back and is now suggesting something much weaker, tropical wave moving across Florida Monday.

This system will likely begin to bring more widespread showers and thunderstorms to Tampa Bay Labor Day into Tuesday as it moves northwest into the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

The exact timing of when the best chance of rain will arrive will depend on how quickly this system moves out of the Caribbean and into the Gulf of Mexico. Regardless, even though this tropical wave will bring a higher chance of rain through the beginning of next week it won't be all that different from the types of storms we have seen recently.

The National Hurricane Center is currently predicting a 20 percent chance that this tropical wave develops into a tropical depression or tropical storm as it moves away from Tampa Bay toward the central Gulf Coast.

Bottom line: Don't cancel those Labor Day weekend plans, keep the umbrella around and pay attention to future forecasts.

All the while, the National Hurricane Center will continue to watch a system now called Tropical Depression Six just off of the African coast. This will likely become Tropical Storm Florence on Saturday. The storm is forecast to remain over the open waters of the Atlantic, posing no threat to the United States.

Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10News app now.

Have a news tip? Email desk@wtsp.com, or visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.

Before You Leave, Check This Out