UPDATED: Flood watch, tropical storm, tropical wind notices

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for most of south Florida, effective from 4 PM Tuesday through Wednesday evening for South Florida.

Other warnings issued Tuesday include a tropical wind warning in effect intil 2 AM Thursday.

Copious rain from a developing low pressure area south of Cuba will move across south Florida late this afternoon through early Wednesday afternoon as a frontal boundary stalls just to the north. Periods of very heavy rainfall -- in excess of 2 inches per hour -- are possible. the period of heaviest rainfall is expected to occur late Tuesday through Wednesday morning.

Total rain amounts are expected to range between 3-5 inches in the east coast metro areas with 2-4 inches forecast elsewhere. Locally higher amounts are possible. Weather modeling at WPEC-CBS12 has forecast possible rainfall totals as high as 8 inches in the coastal metro areas.

Street and low-lying flooding can be expected. There is a possibility for significant flooding, with roads becoming impassable and flood waters entering buildings.

A flood watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts. You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible flood warnings. those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.