Moderate to heavy rain will linger in SWFL until Friday

FORT MYERS, Fla.- Moderate and heavy rain is expected to linger throughout parts of Southwest Florida into Thursday night, according to WINK Weather meteorologists.

There is a low chance for isolated severe weather incidents Thursday, WINK Weather Meteorologist Mary Mays said Wednesday.

“Tomorrow: low chance but we had a low chance today and we still had a couple of warnings, so keep that in mind,” Mays said. “We’re going to linger that chance for some severe weather. It will just be isolated.”

Rainstorms will clear out of the region by Friday, Mays predicts.

“We’re going to still see the showers and storms through tomorrow. It’s going to take a while for this to completely clear the area. It will by the end of the work week and we’re going to see cooler, clearer conditions by your Friday,” Mays said Wednesday.

Heavy rain hit Southwest Florida throughout the afternoon on Wednesday, causing flooding in parts of Cape Coral. Chiquita Boulevard and Embers Parkway near Mariner High School, Diplomat Parkway and NW Fifth Avenue were submerged Wednesday evening, according to Cape Coral police.

The flooding left many drivers confused about how to get home Wednesday evening. Fran Llewellyn of Cape Coral said the roads get dangerous every time there are significant showers.

“Look at this I’m afraid to come home. It’s so dark. It’s so rainy and look at this. And it’s been like this for years. It’s not gotten any better. What’s it take? Get somebody out here to fix this,” she said. “Now I’m going to float home.”

Police warned drivers to find alternate routes as requests to cone-off lanes were submitted.

A tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service for south central Collier County, near the Everglades City area, expired at 12:30 p.m. No damage has been reported in the sparsely populated area, according to WINK News meteorologist Mary Mays.

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area, but gusty winds and downpours are still possible with the thunderstorm, the National Weather Service said.

Flooding is a continued possibility as some inland ares of Collier County have already seen 2.5 inches of rain.