Tracking The Tropics: What To Expect In South Florida This Weekend

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – It will be a windy and wet start to the weekend across South Florida, but not necessarily a total washout.

Tropical Depression Nine, located several hundred miles east southeast of Freeport, Grand Bahama Island is moving northwest and is expected to strengthen.

The depression is expected to become Tropical Storm Humberto by Saturday as it moves near the northwestern Bahamas.

Tropical storm watches and warnings remain in effect for parts of the northwestern Bahamas and east coast of Florida between Jupiter and Daytona Beach.

Meanwhile, Broward, Miami-Dade, and the Keys will continue to deal with gusty winds and passing storms through Saturday evening thanks in part to the nearby depression.

Some storms may be strong and produce high wind gusts, heavy rain and a lot of lightning. Also, winds Friday will be from the northeast then turning out of the west-northwest Saturday between 10 to 20 mph. Wind gusts can reach 30 mph especially for cities along the coast in Miami-Dade and Broward.

Other impacts include higher seas and rough surf Friday and this weekend. Atlantic waters will be choppy as seas between Deerfield Beach and Ocean Reef increase 4 to 6 feet. In addition, a high risk of rip currents is expected.

The forecast track of what is expected to be Tropical Storm Humberto keeps the center of the intensifying storm off the Florida and Southeast US coasts through the weekend, though rough surf, gusty squalls, and hazardous seas are expected in those areas.

By Sunday, South Florida can expect to have very hot, sunny skies, but a chance of afternoon storms since winds will be from the southwest.