ORLANDO, Fla. – After a hot and dry stretch of weather this week, conditions will turn into a wet pattern this weekend. The News 6 team is keeping a close watch on a tropical disturbance in the Atlantic Ocean.
"We are watching a disturbance extending from Cuba to the Bahamas," News 6 meteorologist Candace Campos said. "It is anticipated to gain tropical characteristics and could develop within the next few days."
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Regardless of development, the disturbance will bring Central Florida heavy downpours starting late Saturday. Tropical rains could linger through the weekend and into early next week, producing rainfall totals between two to four inches.
This increase in rain will also increase flooding concerns for many neighborhoods along the St. Johns River. The National Weather Service still has a flood warning in effect until further notice from Astor down the river to Cocoa.
The official river forecasts from the weather service do not include the potential for additional rainfall and runoff that the disturbance could cause. For that reason, when viewing the forecasts charts below, remember to add another two to four inches.
This added rainfall to the river could raise the water level and upgrade many locations from a moderate flood stage to a major flood stage by the end of next week. Areas near Astor, DeLand, Sanford and Cocoa are currently at a moderate flood stage, with Geneva being the only location still under a major flooding event.