I know. We don’t officially have a storm named Idalia yet, but we will heading into the new work week.  What we DO have is Tropical Depression Ten, which you can read the discussion on in a separate article. It’s TD 10 that will become Idalia and bring Southwest Florida some much needed rain. Did you know that we need at least A FOOT of rain just to get back to near average for the year? Naples actually needs about 19″ to get back to average.

So, this storm passing to our west in the Gulf is actually a very good this concerning our drought. We have the opportunity to put a dent in it. We aren’t going to get a foot of rain, but 3″ to 4″ is possible spread over a couple days from late Tuesday through Thursday. That would be wonderful if that forecast pans out.

Sunday will also be a little rainier than Friday and Saturday were, with a 40% chance of scattered showers and isolated storms. There will be a seabreeze in the afternoon, but a few showers will ride the breeze from the east coast as well.

Morning sunshine will help get us into the mid 90s, but as what will be Idalia gets closer to us in the Gulf (again, not coming directly here but passing by to the west), clouds and rain bands should hold our temperatures below 90º at least one day next week. Another good thing about Idalia? It hasn’t been below 90º for a high temperature since JUNE 18!

Tracking the Tropics

Tropical Depression Ten is the big SWFL headline from the tropics. It’s stationary and will stay nearly stationary through Sunday before heading north into the Gulf on Monday. It will take the name Idalia once winds get to 40 mph sustained.

Hurricane Franklin has an opportunity to become the first major hurricane of 2023. It will pass right near Bermuda next week, but will stay away from the United States and eventually curve to the northern Atlantic Ocean.

Two other open waves have a low chance of developing over the next 7 days, but they are deep in the Atlantic and not pointed to SWFL.