Strong winds, heavy rain to soak South Florida Monday and Tuesday

The National Weather Service is predicting a soggy start to the workweek in South Florida, with a forecast that includes gusty winds, up to 4 inches of rain and the potential for an isolated tornado, as thunderstorms blanket the region.

“Rounds of rainfall are expected to begin early Monday morning and will continue off and on through most of the day,” the weather service’s Miami bureau posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday morning.

The weather service predicts a slow-moving system will drench the tri-county with up to four inches of rain starting Monday morning, with heaviest rainfall Monday afternoon through early Tuesday morning. “An isolated tornado can’t be ruled out,” the weather service warned, adding that “damaging wind gusts” were “the primary threat.”

The risk of rain in Broward and Palm Beach will be around 50% Sunday evening, but that will climb to nearly 100% Monday morning with showers, highs in the mid-80s and southeast-moving gusts up to 25 miles per hour, according to the service’s weather advisory.

The likelihood of thunderstorms will grow by Monday afternoon through the evening, with a 70-to-90% chance of rain that “could lead to instances of urban and poor drainage flooding,” the weather service said, adding that southward wind gusts will slow to 5-10 miles per hour. There’s also a “slight risk” of flash-flooding late Monday night.

Wet conditions will persist Tuesday morning with more rounds of scattered thunderstorms in Broward and Palm Beach, with at least a 70% chance of rain and highs in the mid-80s.

Tuesday evening may bring some respite from the humidity with lows in the upper 60s, but the storm risk will remain 70% or higher. There’s also a chance of storms after midnight Wednesday along portions of the Broward and Palm Beach coastline.

The second half of the work week, meanwhile, should stay dry and warm when conditions clear up Wednesday morning, the weather service said.