Flood warnings along US 301 this evening as storms stay just west of Jacksonville

Tropical Storm Ophelia forms in Atlantic

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Unusually stormy evening is finally fading out west of Jacksonville. US 301 has seen the bulk of heavy rains, with a few places picking up 2 plus inches of rain. These storms are finally fading as they spread southward into Baker, Western Clay and Bradford counties.

Super muggy (and buggy) conditions will develop overnight. Morning low temperatures will remain near 70, about 10 degrees above normal. Skies will clear towards sunrise.

Tuesday kicks off a dry trend that will stretch through the week. Much drier air moves in from the East, lowering our chances for rain, clearing our skies, and raising our afternoon temperatures. 

Expect afternoon temperatures to top out around 90° with light winds out southeast between 5 and 10mph.  There is only a 20%, isolated chance for a short lived shower. 

The evening temperatures will cool quickly after sunset with clear skies. Overnight temperatures will range from the upper 60s to low 70s. 

The hot and dry weather will persist this week, with low chances for rain and hot afternoon temperatures. 

Local Hazards: A moderate risk of rip currents is in effect for the local beaches.

Tidal flooding will continue within the St. Johns River basin at times of high tide.

TROPICS UPDATE:

Tropical Storm Ophelia has formed and is located near latitude 31.4 North, longitude 39.9 West. Ophelia is moving North-northeast near 3 mph, and a turn toward the northeast is expected later today. A motion toward the east-northeast and east is forecast to occur later tonight, followed by a turn toward the east-southeast on Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 45 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 mb.​

Here's a little tropical trivia for you, if Ophelia develops into a hurricane it will be a record tying 10 named storms in a row all becoming a hurricane. Nate, was a category 1 hurricane as he pushed into Biloxi, MS last Saturday. Nate was the fastest Gulf of Mexico hurricane, entering into it from the Caribbean Sea and hitting the Gulf Coast in just 21 hours.