Forecast: Scattered afternoon storms with an eye on the tropics

A round of scattered downpours and thunderstorms is on tap for the area this evening as temperatures and conditions remain mild and muggy. After any showers or storms that develop fade away tonight, temperatures will slip down into the middle 70s after midnight.

On Friday, seasonable weather can be expected with afternoon highs in the low 90s. Rain chances are highest in the afternoon along and to the west of Intestate 75.

While we monitor the local weather forecast we’re also tracking the Caribbean Sea. Tropical Depression 9 developed west-southwest of Jamaica earlier today and though the system is not pointed directly at Southwest Florida, it is moving toward the northwest and should be at hurricane strength in the Gulf by Saturday morning.

For the time being forecast models continue to show the center of circulation staying well west of our area keeping the worst winds this weekend way offshore of where we are. As with any tropical system in the Gulf though we’ll need to monitor every twist and turn so we do ask you touch base with an NBC2 Newscast on Friday and Saturday should anything major change with the outlook.

The northern Gulf of Mexico bears the biggest risk from what will eventually be Hurricane Ida. You can learn more about the system and its anticipated track in our tropical weather blog.

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