Tropical Storm Sara’s remnants to bring heavy rain, strong gusts to Florida Panhandle

Tropical Storm Sara’s remnants have all but dissipated after the system emerged into the Gulf of Mexico early Monday morning, but moisture from the storm is expected to cause heavy rain between eastern Louisiana and the Florida Panhandle this week, according to the latest information from AccuWeather.

While Sara never intensified into a hurricane, the storm’s slow-moving nature and moisture caused catastrophic and life-threatening flooding and mudslides over portions of Honduras. Some areas saw up to 40 inches of rain by the time Sara made it into the southern Gulf of Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center reported that Sara had dissipated around 3 a.m. Monday morning, but the storm’s moisture is expected to be carried northward. AccuWeather is calling that system Tropical Rainstorm Sara.

“Tropical Rainstorm Sara can bring flooding downpours to the northern Gulf Coast Monday night through Tuesday night, with a wide swath of 2-4 inches from eastern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle,” said AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva.

Rain won’t be the only impact felt along the Panhandle. “Winds can occasionally gust to 40-60 mph, with the highest wind gusts likely to be confined to the coast and coinciding with any heavier downpours,” said DaSilva.

Where is Tropical Storm Sara now?

The remnants of Tropical Storm Sara dissipated over the southern Gulf of Mexico around 3 a.m. on Monday, according to the NHC. That doesn’t mean Sara totally disappeared, however.

The system AccuWeather is now calling Tropical Rainstorm Sara is a trough of low pressure that’s currently emerging into the southern Gulf near Ciudad del Carmen in Campeche, Mexico.

When will Tropical Rainstorm Sara impact Florida?

AccuWeather is predicting a Florida “landfall” around Wednesday morning. Sara will be a tropical rainstorm that will skirt the Gulf Coast of the United States before it moves over land around Florida’s Big Bend area.

What impacts will Tropical Rainstorm Sara have on Florida?

Florida can expect to see heavy rain, a risk of flash flooding, a potential for isolated tornadoes and wind gusts between 40-60 mph starting around Tuesday.

Marine conditions around Florida’s Panhandle beaches will also be dangerous.

“It is important to note that there will be a dangerous rip current risk along the Gulf Coast from Monday through Wednesday as a result of the tropical rainstorm,” warned DaSilva.

Will there be a tropical storm in December in 2024?

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has seen a rather climactic wrap up as it looks to end on Nov. 30. That date won’t magically deter systems from spinning up in December, however.

Near the end of October, AccuWeather warned that a December tropical storm was very much in the cards, but the good news is that it will likely only be a novelty.

A tropical or subtropical storm could crop up in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean into early December, according to DaSilva, but any impact on the U.S. is highly unlikely.

Pensacola area weather for the week of Nov. 18-24

The Pensacola area can expect to see a wet week followed by cooler, dryer conditions. Temperatures will fluctuate with highs in the 70s-80s and lows from the mid-50s to upper 40s as we get closer to the end of the week, according to the National Weather Service Office Mobile/Pensacola.

• Monday, Nov. 18 — Monday will be partly sunny with a high near 79 degrees. Showers are likely after 3 a.m. The low will be around 71 degrees.

• Tuesday, Nov. 19 — Tuesday will see showers with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Some of the storms will produce heavy rainfall between 2 and 3 inches. Tuesday night will see a 50% chance of showers, mainly before midnight. The high will be near 75 degrees, with a low around 64.

• Wednesday, Nov. 20 — Wednesday is expected to be sunny, with a high near 73 degrees and a low around 45.

• Thursday, Nov. 21 — Thursday will mark the beginning of a cold front. It will be sunny, with a high near 63 degrees and a low around 44.

• Friday, Nov. 22 — Friday will be sunny, with a high near 62 and a low around 43 degrees.

• Saturday, Nov. 23 — Saturday will be sunny with a high near 63 degrees and a low near 46.

• Sunday, Nov. 24 — Sunday will be sunny, with a high around 68 degrees.

Pensacola Beach weather and flags

Pensacola Beach is under a number of warnings and advisories due to the remnants of Tropical Storm Sara.

A high rip current risk is in effect in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa coastal counties through Wednesday afternoon.

A coastal flood advisory will also be in effect in these areas from 6 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday. Affected areas can expect to see flooded lots, parks and roads, with only isolated road closures expected, according to the NWS.

A high surf advisory will be in effect from 6 p.m. Monday until 6 a.m. Wednesday. The NWS expects large breaking waves between 3 to 6 feet in the surf zone.

Pensacola Beach will see moderate to high rip currents through Friday, according to the National Weather Service Office Mobile/Pensacola.

• Current flag conditions at Pensacola Beach: Red flag

• Current Water temperature: 74 degrees.

• Tomorrow’s beach flag forecast: 60% red flag, 40% double red flag

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Tropical Storm Sara dissipates but Florida will still see impacts

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