Tropical Storm Alex

After Alex’s glancing, here is a window of opportunity to learn some interesting facts about hurricanes.

Potential tropical cyclones can still produce life-threatening flooding and other weather hazards

The storm triggered six sewage spills, include three that likely dumped sewage in the Miami River, Biscayne Bay and waters off Virginia Key.

Tropical Storm Alex is a new version of the storm that was called Hurricane Agatha in the Pacific and drenched South Florida before moving into the Atlantic.

Rain reports from around the Miami area indicate a widespread area of 9 to 10 inches near the immediate waterfront, into the Central Business District.

Skies should clear across the Tampa Bay area by Sunday, bringing lower rain chances.

The system could bring the potential of 6-10 inches of rain across Charlotte, Collier, and Lee counties, with locally higher totals possible near coastal areas.

The system is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm before its arrival on Saturday.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect over the Florida Keys and the peninsula from I-4 south valid through at least the start of the weekend.

Forecasters say the broad area of low pressure will move into the Gulf of Mexico and could produce heavy rain over the greater Tampa Bay region this weekend.

Regardless of ultimate track or intensity, interests in the western Caribbean, Florida Keys, and South Florida can expect an uptick in moisture and rainfall chances for the rest of the week.

The system has a 70 percent chance of development by the end of the week.