For much of the southern and central Florida Peninsula, a broad 4 to 8 inches of rain, with localized 12 inch totals, appears likely.

Even as Hurricane Helene was pressing toward the Florida coast, AccuWeather's team of expert meteorologists has been monitoring part of the Gulf of Mexico for yet another round of tropical trouble. Indications point toward a tropical feature that will organize and strike the Florida Peninsula next week with torrential rain and the likelihood of flooding.

A complex weather pattern is gathering together in the Gulf of Mexico and is forecast to move east, bringing torrential rain and the threat of a tropical depression or weak tropical storm to

A developing storm, which may or may not get a name, could bring 4 to 8 inches of rain across central and southern Florida, with up to a foot not impossible in spots.

Florida's Panhandle and North Florida are expected to get the most rain, but the rest of the state could get up to 4 inches into the weekend.

Confidence is unusually low on how the system will evolve, but chances of heavy rain in Florida this weekend and next week are increasing.

A sloppy mashup of showers and thunderstorms over the western Gulf of Mexico is expected to make its way toward South Florida bringing days of rain beginning Sunday that could total up to a foot in some areas through mid-week.

Spotty storms will be possible on Saturday but the chance of rain will increase Sunday into early next week due to the disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico. Numerous to widespread storms will be possible with the threat of flooding Sunday through early next week.

A good chance for system development as it moves across the Gulf of Mexico… FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: A broad area of low pressure located over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms.

A tropical or subtropical depression or storm could form next week. Another possibility: development of a compact hurricane.