Heavy Wind Warning Announced as 50 mph Damaging Winds Emerge
On Tuesday, April 7, the National Weather Service issued heavy wind warnings for areas of the country facing dangerous windy conditions. It just goes to show that you can never underestimate Mother Nature.
While it's easy to think of spring as a month with pleasant, sunny weather, the season also brings hurricanes, high winds and severe thunderstorms. Now, millions of residents in Florida are facing damaging winds, strong currents and power outages as a storm moves through the area this week.
Expect Heavy Winds, Up to 50 mph, and Up to 5 Inches of Rain in Florida This Week
According to a report from Weather and Radar, Florida, which has been dealing with a drought, is in for a turnaround, with heavy rain and thunderstorms on the way. "The eastern half of the state will see the most action, with up to five inches of rain possible," their research states, for both Tuesday, April 7, and Wednesday, April 8.
While this isn't enough to totally end the drought, it will help. But, due to the heavy nature of this rain, residents should brace for heavy rain and flash flooding, specifically in the cities of Orlando, Melbourne, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
According to a separate report from the weather experts at Click on Orlando, the storm will also bring winds of up to 50 miles per hour starting on Tuesday, April 7, and running through Thursday, April 9. "These winds could bring down small branches and lead to isolated power outages, so it’s a good idea to secure any loose outdoor items," they add. Temperatures are also expected to dip, with aeras of Florida going from the 80s on Monday to the lower 70s during the week.
If you're in the path of high winds, the National Weather Service says to "identify an interior room of your house, such as a basement or interior bathroom, that you can take shelter in during high wind warnings." They also say to "make a list of items outside your home you will need to tie down or put away so that they don't blow away or fly through a window."
Forecasters say that the rain will settle later in the week, bringing drier conditions back to Florida and nearby states.