Tropical Rains Return to Florida

Drenching downpours and locally strong thunderstorms will continue over a large part of the Sunshine State the next few days.  Above:  Storm clouds move in from the west over the nearly-dry Lake Theresa in Central Florida.  The water level should be where the boat rests in the foreground.

Click on any image at Phillip's Natural World to enlarge

Below:  1.70 inches of rain (43.18 mm) later, the lake looks just as dry as before the rains, though maybe a little greener.  Normally the lake is about 700 acres.  Today the lake surface covers less than 100 acres.  These images are looking northeast toward Daytona Beach.

The combination of a stalled cold front over the panhandle of Florida and moisture flowing in from the Gulf of Mexico will deliver multiple showers and thunderstorms through the end of the week.

A disturbance is embedded in the rounds of showers and thunderstorms over the east-central Gulf of Mexico.

As is typical in June, wind shear will prevent significant tropical development of the disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico.  The weather system will drift eastward into the central part of the Florida Peninsula late tonight into the day Thursday (June 7, 2012) and will enhance rainfall and thunderstorms. Wind shear—or strong winds at the middle and upper levels of the atmosphere—inhibits development of tropical systems or causes weakening of existing hurricanes.

Above:  Water pours off the lake house in one of the quick, but heavy downpours over the past couple days.  During the weekend, a wind shift will occur and the cold front to the north will break down. However, while the flow may change, more downpours are forecast and wind shear will continue with a strong west-to-easterly flow.

The damp weather has brought out a lot of wildlife.  Below:  (1)  An alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) enjoying the rain, (2) Raccoons (Procyon lotor elucus) on the front porch during one downpour with Dell-Roy (left Black) and duPree (right white-brown) watching the action through the front window (3) A Florida Black Bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) running across the road during an afternoon shower.  

This weekend, the flow is forecast to become more southerly and will then drive Gulf of Mexico moisture northward over the Florida Panhandle, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.

The rainfall is much-needed, especially in the central and northern counties of Florida where years-long drought have ravaged the natural environment. The rainy season, including Tropical Storm Beryl, has delivered some beneficial rains over the past weeks, but much more is needed.

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The Koi ponds appear to be much healthier with the rainfall.

The three ponds at the lake house are devoid of koi at the moment due to the presence of many predators who have been forced from their natural habitat (the lake) into the ponds.

If the lake returns I'll net the ponds, move the otters (Lontra canadensis) and raccoons and restock the ponds.  Above: The Big Pond has been the most challenging to keep healthy during the drought.  This pond holds many thousands of gallons of water (30,000 liters +).  The house is barely visible in the background of this shot.

The sunflowers are not so happy with the sudden downpours and wind. This 8-foot tall (2.4 meter) stand is barely holding together after repeated assaults of wind and rain.

Unrelated to the tropical rains, little DRR Tabby (Damien Roscoe Roth) is ill.  Here he rests

on my chest, his favorite spot.  He is barely a handful. . . tiny in comparison to all the other

pets.  The travel veterinarian is coming tomorrow to look in on him.