Sarasota and Manatee County residents should plan around a wet Tuesday afternoon. Forecasters expect storms to develop between 3 and 7 p.m., with rain chances reaching 60% near the coast as the sea breeze pushes development toward the beaches. Heavy rain is possible, so commuters heading home along the Tamiami Trail or over the Sunshine Skyway should build in extra time.
On the water, Tuesday morning offers the best conditions of the week, with east winds of 5 to 10 knots. That changes Wednesday when a trough of low pressure drives significantly stronger winds and possible small craft advisories. Boaters should plan to stay in or keep a close eye on updated forecasts. The payoff comes late Wednesday into Thursday, when lower humidity briefly replaces the usual summer feel before it returns Friday.
It has been a soggy stretch. September rainfall is running more than 4 inches above normal, and the year sits 1.21 inches above average. Meanwhile, hurricane season remains quiet locally, though meteorologists are tracking a low-pressure area east of Bermuda with a 40% chance of development well north of our waters. As WWSB Chief Meteorologist Bob Harrigan noted, we have through November, so there is still time to stay prepared.
How are you handling this wet September, loving it or ready for a dry stretch?
