Worst weekend weather predicted for Labor Day

WEST PALM BEACH — Rain, rain and more rain is in the forecast this Labor Day weekend, only heightened by a tropical wave approaching Florida early this week.

There was a 30 percent chance of showers late Saturday night, but those chances will increase today, according to the National Weather Service. The highs should remain in the upper 80s throughout the weekend, with the lows dipping to the upper 70s.

There’s a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms today with partly cloudy skies. It will be breezy, with an east wind producing gusts up to 20 mph. Conditions will worsen tonight with mostly cloudy skies and a 60 percent chance of rain. There is a small chance for thunderstorms but a few could pop up, NWS meteorologist Sean Miller said.

A hazardous weather outlook remains in effect, which states there is a high risk of rip currents and scattered thunderstorms that likely will continue into Monday.

A tropical wave that is just north of Hispaniola has a 10 percent chance of forming in the next two days and a 40 percent chance of forming in five days. It likely will create pockets of heavy rain, localized flooding in areas of poor drainage and also isolated tornadoes and waterspouts between late tonight and early Tuesday.

The rain threats are equally hazardous from Palm Beach to Miami-Dade counties. The rainiest day likely will be Monday, when the chance of precipitation is 80 percent. Conditions will be windy with southeast gusts reaching as high as 26 mph.

NWS meteorologist Andrew Hagen advised everyone to stay alert this holiday weekend.

“Although we do think the heavy rain and flooding is the only threat, sometimes these disturbances can ramp up quickly,” he said.

Showers are expected to dissipate Monday night, when the chance for rain decreases to 50 percent. Rain chances will decrease even further as the week progresses.