SAVANNAH, Ga. () — After a wet and cooler weekend in the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry, the new week started out with similar conditions.

Pockets of heavy rain were tracking across the region for much of Monday afternoon.

Rainfall totals were not too impressive for most of the area, though it was very heavy in a few locations. VIPIR Radar estimates that portions of interior Bryan County received over 3″ of rain Monday afternoon.

Many locations since last Friday though have received 5″ of rain with more on the way this week which led to some flooding issues on Saturday and Sunday.

A LOOK AHEAD

More showers and storms are expected through the week as a stalled out frontal boundary remains over the southeast. This boundary will help to continue to bring in more Gulf moisture which will lead to heavy rain at times.

Heavy rain at times will be a main issue through the week. Flash flooding is possible for areas with poor drainage because the ground is now saturated from heavy rain over the past few days.

Rainfall totals between Tuesday and the weekend may be up to 2-3″. Locally higher amounts are possible.  

Timing for rain and storms will primarily be in the afternoons Tuesday through the weekend.

However, passing showers and storms cannot be ruled out at night because of how much moisture is flowing into the region and because of the stationary boundary helping to initiate storm development.

One good thing with the unsettled pattern this week will be a continuation of having afternoon highs below normal. Forecast high temperatures will remain in the mid to upper 80s for the next few days.

Conditions will gradually warm later in the week and next week as rain and storm chances may begin to backoff. Next week is expected to be a little drier with highs in the low to mid 90s.

TRACKING THE TROPICS

The tropics started to become more active over this past weekend. An area of disturbed weather north of Bermuda became Tropical Storm Dexter on Sunday. It is a weak tropical storm with sustained 45 mph wind and gusts up to 65 mph.

This system is forecast to maintain strength over the next several days. Dexter is expected to begin weakening by the weekend. This system is moving away from the U.S. and poses no direct threat to any land.

The National Hurricane Center is also monitoring two other systems for potential development. One area that is highlighted is an area of cloudiness just off of the Georgia and South Carolina coasts.

This broad area of low pressure is associated with the stalled out frontal boundary draped over the southeast. It has a low (30%) chance of becoming a tropical depression or tropical storm over the next five-seven days.

Enhanced rain chances would be our main local concern from this system regardless of development. There is no direct threat to the U.S. at this time.

The third system that is being monitored for potential development is a strong wave that is moving off of the west coast of Africa. Environmental conditions are forecast to support gradual organization and strengthening over the next five-seven days.

This tropical wave has a medium (50%) chance of developing into a tropical depression or tropical storm later this week. Long-range guidance indicated that this system will favor turning to the north into the central Atlantic before impacting the Antilles. 

There is no threat to land or the U.S. from this tropical wave at this time.