Tropical storm unlikely to form but Longboat Key will be wet this weekend

The diminishing possibility a tropical storm could strike the mainland of Florida means it’s unlikely dredging will have to stop off Longboat Key this weekend.

The dredge is susceptible to high waves, however, and could still possibly be affected. The National Weather Services predicts a wet weekend even if the weather system fails to increase in severity.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a tropical wave now over the southeastern Bahamas that is expected to track west or west-northwest over the next several days. There is a low chance of this system having tropical development over the next 48 hours, NHC reported Friday afternoon.

There is only a medium chance of development over the next five days, according to NHC reports online.

“There is a threat of heavy rainfall causing flooding, particularly Saturday through Monday,” the National Hurricane Center reported for the area including Longboat Key. “The risk of rip currents is forecast to increase to high this weekend into early next week.”

Scattered showers and thunderstorms can be expected after 2 p.m. and before 10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, according to the NWS forecast.

Highs will reach the low 90s with temps cooling to 79 or so overnight each day over the weekend.

An estimated 12,226 cubic yards of sand was moved during the first week of dredging at New Pass off Longboat Key, according to the Town website.

Norfolk Dredging Co., of Chesapeake, Va., started at the southern end of L’Ambiance condominiums and is working north.

Additional shore pipe pieces have been delivered to progress north to Regent Place as work continues 24/7.

The New Pass portion of the project is to be completed about Sept. 15.

Once south-end sand placement is done, dredging will move to the north end of the Key, using 250,000 cubic yards of sand from Longboat Pass to fill two critically eroded areas south of Gulfside Road, according to a report from Longboat Key Public Works and Utilities Director Juan Florensa. The north-end project is expected to be finished in November.