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Finally! Rain-free overnight; monitoring tropical disturbance, high flooding risk

By Irene Sans, WFTV.com, Kevin Williams and Brian Shields, WFTV.com
By Irene Sans, WFTV.com, Kevin Williams and Brian Shields, WFTV.com

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — 11:45 p.m.

Radar is completely clear of showers and storms for a change! Enjoy the evening.

We will continue to monitor the tropical disturbance which has now a 50 percent chance for development within the next 5 days.

As of now, we forecast heavy and frequent rains during this weekend, which will likely produce several places to flood. The ground is already well-saturated and these rains, although they will likely erase the drought, they could turn dangerous.

Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News starting at 5 a.m. with certified meteorologist Brian Shields, he will have the latest models and potential rainfall for Memorial Weekend.
7:00 p.m.

Storms have been very limited this afternoon as the clouds quickly took over inhibiting the development of stronger cells. Overall expect calm conditions overnight with lows dropping to the low to mid-70s.

Watch live: Doppler 9 HD

Wednesday will remain very similar to today, weather will be mostly quiet. Temperatures rising to the mid-80s during the afternoon which could trigger some storms. These afternoon storms will once again be very limited.

We are closely watching the potential for serious flooding this upcoming weekend. The tropical disturbance over the western Caribbean continues with a medium chance to develop once it reaches the central or eastern Gulf of Mexico.

Regardless of development, all its moisture will be focused to the right of the storms, over Florida. 
We could have high rainfall over the weekend producing high flooding risk on already saturated grounds. We will continue to monitor this situation and bring you updated on our newscasts, wftv.com and on our free weather app. 

Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News starting at 11 p.m. with certified chief meteorologist Tom Terry, he will have the latest models and potential rainfall for Memorial Weekend.
3:50 p.m.

Watch live: Doppler 9 HD

Showers and storms have started to build over Central Florida, arriving from the south. Scattered storms will continue to sweep over the region through the afternoon hours. Temperatures along the coast have reached the low-80s and some inland locations close to the mid-80s with some. The partly sunny skies and the heat will likely develop the sea breeze which will spark more isolated thunderstorms just in time for the commute home. 

<< Download the free WFTV Weather app to receive lightning alerts when lightning strikes 8 miles from your location>>

Possible tropical development
There is not much new today about the tropical disturbance. The disturbance currently over the western Caribbean will linger in this same area during the next couple of days until it moves over the Gulf of Mexico when the chances for development increases. The area of disturbed weather will be entering the Gulf of Mexico starting Thursday evening and this is when it could have further development, meaning it could become a depression or tropical storm. This area might just stay very disorganized and not develop into a named system. Either way, expect the rain chances to continue high through the Memorial Day Weekend.
Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News starting at 4 p.m. to track the showers and storms with certified chief meteorologist Tom Terry

11:30 a.m.

Isolated showers and storms have arrived in parts of Volusia County, as more sinkholes open in Marion County.

Watch live: Doppler 9 HD

More rain is coming to Central Florida after the lunch hour, said Channel 9 certified meteorologist Brian Shields. Some of the showers and storms could impact the evening rush.

<< Download the free WFTV News and Weather apps to track storms in your neighborhood >>

With so much wet weather over the past week and a half, the ground in Florida is heavily saturated. Late morning Tuesday, Skywitness 9HD flew over sinkholes in Marion County.

More sinkholes opened Monday near The Villages.

Watch: 4 new sinkholes form in The Villages neighborhood

The rest of the week:

According to Shields, a tropical disturbance will move into the Gulf of Mexico. Whether it develops or not, Central Florida will be inundated with rain and storms for Memorial Day weekend.

Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News at noon to track the showers and storms with certified meteorologist Brian Shields
Send us your weather pics using #stormalert9

9:15 a.m.

Brevard County is seeing the worst of the rain as the morning rush comes to a close, but more rain and storms will move in across Central Florida as the day goes on.

Watch live: Doppler 9 HD

<< Download the free WFTV News and Weather apps to track storms in your neighborhood >>

Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News at noon to track the showers and storms with certified meteorologist Brian Shields.

Watch below: Meteorologist Brian Shield's full forecast

5 a.m.

Central Florida should prepare for another day of rain and storms.

Watch live: Doppler 9 HD

The morning commute will be mostly dry, but wet weather will become more likely as the day unfolds.

<< Download the free WFTV News and Weather apps to track storms in your neighborhood >>

Channel 9 certified meteorologist Brian Shields said there is a 70 percent chance of rain and storms with a high temperature around 83 degrees.

Watch WFTV Eyewitness News from 5 to 7 a.m. on Channel 9 and TV 27 from 7 to 9 a.m. to get weather and traffic updates every 10 minutes with certified meteorologist Brian Shields and traffic anchor Racquel Asa.

<< Traffic tracker: Beat the gridlock and get road detours here >>

Wet weather is not expected to go away this week. According to Shields, a tropical disturbance will move into the Gulf of Mexico. Whether it develops or not, Central Florida will be inundated with rain and storms for Memorial Day weekend.

Send us your weather pics using #stormalert9
Watch below: Meteorologist Brian Shields' 5-day forecast:

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