A tropical storm warning for Palm Beach and most of South Florida was issued Tuesday morning by the National Hurricane Center as Tropical Depression 16 formed in the Caribbean.
The system was forecast to be upgraded to Tropical Storm Nicole before it moves over or near the southern peninsula. A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions, with winds of 39 to 73 mph, are expected within 36 hours.
However, NHC forecasters noted that the system won’t have time to strengthen much before going over Cuba, and they believed the system would remain at minimal tropical storm strength. Top winds were projected at about 45 mph.
The storm warning area stretched from the Jupiter Inlet to the north and southward to East Cape Sable, and included all of the Florida Keys. Tropical storm warnings were also issued for the Bahamas and Cuba.
A tropical storm watch was issued for the east coast of Florida from the Jupiter Inlet north to the Sebastian Inlet. On Florida’s west coast, a watch was issued East Cape Sable to Chokoloskee. (A watch means tropical storm conditions are possible within 48 hours.)
Forecasters said coastal Palm Beach County could receive up to 6 inches of rain starting late tonight and continuing through Wednesday.
A flood watch was issued for the Palm Beach area by the National Weather Service in Miami from 4 p.m. today through 2 p.m. Wednesday. Forecasters said heavy rain at the rate of 2 inches per hour was possible. Street flooding can be expected, NWS forecasters said, “with roads becoming impassable and flood waters entering structures.”
Wind gusts of up to 40 mph are forecast late tonight. Forecasters also said there was a “minimal risk” of tornadoes late today through Wednesday afternoon.
A second tropical system forecast to push up from the Caribbean next week could cause more havoc for South Florida, some forecasters said, particularly because the ground will already be saturated from this week’s storm.