JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The sun broke out Tuesday afternoon across Northeast Florida, but rainfall with some embedded thunderstorms are likely to continue moving across the area later in the day and continuing for the next 36 hours.
"We are basically awaiting for the possibility of multiple rounds of heavy rains, not just this afternoon, but through Wednesday evening," Chief Meteorologist John Gaughan said. "These storms/downpours may add another 1 to 2 inches by 8 p.m. tonight."
Gaughan said those in Alachua, Bradford, Clay and St. Johns counties should anticipate Tuesday afternoon and evening storms. Rains should fade overnight, but return Wednesday afternoon when a different weather pattern that could produce scattered but severe thunderstorms.
Because localized rainfall from the slow-moving cells early Tuesday dropped 1 to 2 inches, any additional rain on already saturated ground could result in localized flooding.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood advisories for all Northeast Florida counties through Tuesday night, and that could be extended.
"The rain is all coming from a stationary front extending south from the Interstate 10 corridor to a broad area of low pressure in the Gulf of Mexico," meteorologist Richard Nunn said on The Local Station at noon. "This low is forecast to track to the east and ride along the front Tuesday and move offshore overnight."
Chance of rain the rest of the day is 80 percent, with the highest chance of rain and flooding near the coast.
The chance of rain on Wednesday is 70 percent.