Visible satellite imagery across Florida shows thunderstorms over portions of the Panhandle and north Florida regions, and across south Florida.  Another area of thunderstorms over the eastern Gulf of Mexico was approaching the west coast of the state.  Relatively clear skies over interior central Florida exists a very unstable atmosphere and additional surface heating will allow thunderstorms to rapidly develop by early afternoon.  All activity will travel towards the northeast at 25-30 mph.

Satellite imagery across the continental U.S. reveals much of the weather lies across the eastern half of the country.  A combination of a mid-latitude upper level low pressure system over the western Gulf of Mexico and deep layered, widespread tropical moisture will lead to rainfall across much of the Gulf Coast, Florida, and southeast U.S.  Across the Florida Peninsula, day time heating along  with the east and west coast sea breezes will trigger showers and thunderstorms by afternoon and evening.  Mid level steering flow has strengthened from the southwest thus all activity over the state will travel towards the northeast around 15-20 mph.

Satellite imagery across the continental U.S. shows a large swath of moisture over the Gulf of Mexico that will give drought relief to areas of Florida over the next few days.  This moisture eminating from the Gulf of Mexico and Eastern Pacific  (EPAC) Ocean includes the remnants of EPAC Tropical Storm Beatriz.  The entire area will be monitored for possible redevelopment as it moves towards the northeast over the Gulf of Mexico.  Regardless, Florida can expected periodic rainfall over the weekend and next week.

6/1/2017 – June 1 marks the beginning of the 2017 Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season. Here is an example of a new product that will be issued this year by NHC, the earliest reasonable arrival time of tropical storm force and hurricane winds. This product will be very useful when making personal and business related decisions when the next storm threatens.