Moisture Increasing Ahead of a Slow Cold Front this Week
The cold front could produce scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms later this week as it sinks to the south.
A slow moving cold front is expected to bring an increased chance of showers and thunderstorms to parts of the Florida Panhandle and North Florida beginning Monday.
A deepening low pressure system over the Ohio River Valley was moving eastward Sunday towards the Mid-Atlantic states dragging a cold front to the southwest. Scattered showers and thunderstorms ahead of the front were marching east across the Gulf coast during the afternoon hours on Mother’s Day. This same cold front is expected to take aim at the Sunshine State for the new work week.
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The line of storms is on track to move through the Florida Panhandle from Pensacola to Fort Walton, Destin, and Panama City between 6 am and Noon Central Time. Gusty winds and isolated reports of wind damage or a brief tornado are possible as the line moves through. The line is expected to consolidate as it approaches the Tallahassee area between Noon and 4 PM Eastern Time. The expected time of arrival in the Lake City, Jacksonville, and Gainesville areas is between 5 and 8 PM.
Computer model simulations suggest the line may weaken slightly as it approaches I-4 and the Space coast between 6 and 10 PM, but it will remain capable of producing gusty winds and perhaps an isolated tornado. The weakening line is forecast to reach the Treasure Coast, South Florida, and the Keys between 9 PM and 1 AM. Most of the rain should depart the Atlantic coast by dawn Christmas Day.