Rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue in Alachua County this week

Keep those umbrellas close because summer showers aren’t letting up anytime soon as weather reports indicate.

After last week’s heavy rain and thunderstorms dampened some July 4th celebrations in the Alachua County area, more rain and wet weather is expected to continue and extend into the upcoming weekend.

The National Weather Service’s seven-day forecast shows thunderstorms are expected for much of the week, with a narrow window of clear skies to enjoy the great outdoors.

“We’ve got a lot of tropical humidity over our area right now,” said Ben Nelson, a weather forecaster for the Jacksonville office of the National Weather Service. “It’s July, so it’s the peak of the rainy season.”

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Monday started with sporadic heavy rains that may lead straight into Tuesday, showing a 40% chance of afternoon showers.

However, forecasts show that Tuesday may offer the best opportunity for anyone who needs to get some much-needed gardening done before the weather worsens.

Nelson said rainstorms earlier in the week will briefly move north from the Panhandle and create the opening before making their way back south to head into the weekend.

Tuesday is expected to be partly sunny with highs around 91 degrees although it will feel like 101. Evening will bring much of that, but temperatures will drop to around 73 degrees.

The chance for showers and thunderstorms increases slightly on Wednesday to about 50% after 2 p.m. The day will be mostly sunny with a high of around 34 degrees. The chance of rain will remain into the night and temperatures will drop to around 74 degrees.

There is an 80% chance of precipitation on Thursday, with showers and thunderstorms expected around 8am. The heat will continue with a high of 92 and a low of 72 in the evening. The rain could continue into the night as the NWS Jacksonville office forecast a 50% chance.

Heavy rain is expected again on Friday. The chance of precipitation is estimated at 80%, with a maximum of 90 degrees. The evening has a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms and a low of 72.

Will not have much fun outdoors on Saturday or Sunday, since more rain is likely. Both days will be partly sunny with an expected high of 89 and a 70% chance of precipitation.

“It could rain several inches in the Gainesville area,” Nelson said.

On Monday, the NWS Jacksonville bureau hurricane center reported a 30% chance of a tropical depression forming.

Though it’s too early to say how much rain the Alachua County area will see this weekend, Nelson said most of the flooding, if any, will come around the Panhandle, where the depression could be forming.