NEXT Weather Alert ends after South Florida's severe weather, flooding threats diminished Saturday afternoon
MIAMI - We're in for some wet and windy weather through Saturday.
CBS News Miami's NEXT Weather Meteorologist KC Sherman stated on Saturday afternoon that the severe weather threats have ended for all of South Florida as drier air is now moving in, with the heaviest of the rain moving offshore.
On Friday night, the National Weather Service issued a Tornado Watch for all of South Florida through 3 a.m. Saturday and a Flash Flood Warning through 2 a.m. Saturday. The Tornado Watch for Monroe County was upgraded to a Tornado Watch on Saturday morning until noon.
Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe Counties remained under a Flood Watch through 8 p.m. Saturday. As of Saturday morning, the Flood Watch in Miami-Dade County has been downgraded to a Flood Advisory — it was eventually canceled in the afternoon. The Flood Watch for Monroe County was also canceled Saturday afternoon.
Miami-Dade and Broward were also under a Wind Advisory through Saturday evening.
This was due to a strong low-pressure system in the Gulf that brought rounds of rain from Friday through Saturday.
The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center placed South Florida under a Level 1 risk of severe weather Friday with the potential for heavy rain, flooding, damaging gusty winds, small hail, and isolated tornadoes. The biggest concern was flooding but there was an elevated risk of strong damaging winds.
South Florida could see three to five inches of rain with some areas getting as much as six inches. Periods of heavy rain were expected Friday. The highest accumulations are likely to be along and south of Alligator Alley where four to six inches are possible, according to the National Weather Service.
There was a marginal risk for severe thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday with the strongest storms expected across southern portions of the area. The strongest activity had potential wind gusts up to 60 mph. Gusty background winds were anticipated to accompany the system with sustained winds of 20-30 mph and gusts to 40 mph possible on Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon.
Sunday will be drier with plenty of sunshine and highs in the upper 70s. It will be slightly warmer early next week with highs in the low 80s.