It's official: Rainy season started on Sunday

May 18, 2010 1:32 p.m.

The afternoon thunderstorms of the past two days ushered in the rainy season, meteorologist Robert Molleda of the National Weather Service in Miami said Tuesday.

That means thunderstorms will be a near-daily occurrence through mid October, "not to mention the constant mugginess that is a hallmark of this time of year in South Florida," Molleda said in a statement.

Tuesday's forecast: A 50 percent chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s, lows in the low 70s.

The rainy season produces 33 to 44 inches of rain over South Florida, or about 70 percent of the region's annual rainfall.

The season arrived four days earlier than normal. On average it starts on May 20.

Reported by: Ken Kaye/Sun Sentinel

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