While the National Hurricane Center continues to monitor two areas in the Caribbean — one of which is now Tropical Depression 25 — residents in the greater Tampa Bay region will have more urgent short-term concerns.
A wet weekend, followed by rising temperatures and continued rain chances well into next week.
Hurricane center forecasters said Tropical Depression 25 formed Friday morning in the northwestern Caribbean. It has maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, with higher gusts, and is moving northwest at 9 mph.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for portions of Mexico.
Another tropical wave, located in the eastern Caribbean, is moving west and could further develop early next week.
Megan Borowski, meteorologist with the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network, said moisture associated with the tropical depression will bring heavy rain over the state this weekend.
"Moisture high in the atmosphere from the tropics is interacting with a cold front that is stalled over South Florida," Borowski said. "The front will slowly move north through the state this weekend, which means locally heavy rain and areas of flash flooding are possible."
Clouds are lingering on Friday as a cold front pushes into northern parts of the state, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters say the best rain chances on Friday will be south of I-4, with temperatures in the low to mid 80s.
A stalled frontal boundary will lift north on Saturday and drive tropical moisture into the region this weekend, forecasters said. Rain chances jump to 50% on Saturday and 80% on Sunday, with a chance of periodic heavy rainfall that could case minor flooding. Highs will remain around 80.
The forecast for early next week remains in question, depending on the status of the two potential tropical systems. Either way, forecasters say rain chances will continue while temperatures return to the upper 80s, with winds shifting to the east.
