Rain

The National Hurricane Center is watching a tropical system that's crossing Florida from the Atlantic, heading west to the gulf. The center says the storm has the potential to dump heavy rain and cause flash flooding in some places in Florida.

Intense rainstorms are becoming more frequent in most of the U.S. — though experts say where they occur and whether they cause catastrophic flooding is largely a matter of chance. More than 100 people died in Texas Hill Country over the weekend after 12 inches of rain fell in just hours. Last year, Hurricane Helene dumped more than 30 inches of rain on western North Carolina, where flooding killed 108. Experts say human-caused climate change is setting the stage because a hotter atmosphere holds more water. But it's impossible to predict where flooding will occur in any given year.

It’s a surge in dryness throughout the area. All of Southwest Florida is under serious drought conditions, while three counties have entered severe warning.

Florida received a fair coating of rain on Monday with that low-pressure system that dissected the state. Many received around 2 inches, while the Keys flooded. This could put a dent in the drought.

A large non-tropical area of low pressure will likely develop in the southwestern Atlantic this weekend and track toward Florida or the southeast U.S. It is expected to be very broad and disorganized at first, but if certain conditions are present, development into a sub-tropical or tropical system is possible early to mid-next week.

Southwest Florida’s recent bout of dry windy weather has left vegetation and many creek beds dry and created dangerous drought conditions for fire crews…