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Saharan dust shields hurricane development, but watch out for Florida heat Saturday

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Saharan dust shields hurricane development, but watch out for Florida heat Saturday


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While the National Hurricane Center continued its confidence that there would be no tropical activity in Atlantic areas for the next week, Saharan dust and a few tropical waves were what forecasters watched Saturday.

The real impact for Florida on Saturday will come from the heat. The entire Florida peninsula can expect triple-digit heat indexes with some in Southwest Florida predicted for 110 degrees, and 106 as far north as Jacksonville. Heat advisories are in effect for seven South Florida counties.

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A wave of Saharan dust is expected to arrive in South Florida Saturday morning and move north, arriving around Cape Canaveral by Sunday. The dust is expected to be thickest in South Florida, dissipating as it moves north.

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Tropical moisture may increase Florida’s rain chances starting Monday, but, according to Ryan Truchelut, chief meteorologist at WeatherTiger, it won’t be anything organized. Saharan dust, high wind shear and other factors are expected to keep the tropics quiet for the days ahead.

The Hurricane Center is monitoring three tropical waves.

The peak of hurricane season runs from mid-August through mid-October. If your hurricane supplies are running low, or you haven’t started an emergency kit, Florida’s next sales tax holiday the end of August can help you save money.

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Possible impact of tropical wave on Florida

A tropical wave is expected to approach the Florida peninsula Sunday, bringing downpours and gusty thunderstorms. A couple of waterspouts could occur, according to AccuWeather.

“As the tropical wave approaches and moves northwestward across the state from Sunday to Tuesday, an uptick in the showers and thunderstorms will occur with the potential for some to bring flooding downpours, strong wind gusts and even waterspouts near the beaches,” AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said.

The tropical wave is not forecast to develop into a tropical depression or a named tropical storm.

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Florida weather radar: Track storms as they move across state

How long will tropics remain quiet?

The Saharan dust and winds are keeping the tropics quiet now, but forecasters say that will likely change.

“The favorable conditions that yielded Beryl are likely to return at some point in August, and that will probably yield an extended burst of hurricane activity,” said Dr. Ryan Truchelut, chief meteorologist at WeatherTiger.

“WeatherTiger’s real-time forecast remains for around twice the amount of storm activity in a normal hurricane season.”

The next storm of the season will be Debby.

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Extreme heat continues across Florida. See weather watches, warnings

Portions of Southeast, South, Southwest Florida: Head index of 105-110 expected today.

Counties under a heat advisory include:

  • Glades
  • Hendry
  • Palm Beach County
  • Collier County
  • Broward County
  • Miami-Dade County
  • Monroe

What is NOAA tracking in Atlantic basin?

The National Hurricane Center said no tropical cyclone activity is expected over the next several days.

Elsewhere in the tropics, the National Hurricane Center is monitoring three tropical waves. Here’s the latest update from the NHC as of  8 a.m. July 20:  

  • Tropical wave 1: An eastern Atlantic wave was identified via satellite imagery. It’s producing some showers.
  • Tropical wave 2: In the central Caribbean, this wave is expected to move from the Windward Passage to northern Colombia and helping to induce scattered to numerous showers with embedded thunderstorms over Hispaniola and regional waters as well as across the Windward Passage and the waters between eastern Cuba and Jamaica. These storms may produce heavy downpours, lightning and gusty winds.
  • Tropical wave 3: Another tropical wave over the Yucatan Peninsula and Guatemala is moving westward and producing scattered showers and may produce gusty winds or stronger storms in parts of the region.

Who is likely to be impacted? 

A tropical wave is expected to bring tropical moisture to Florida starting Sunday.

Forecasters urge all residents to continue monitoring the tropics and to always be prepared. That advice is particularly important for what is expected to be a very active hurricane season.

When is next Florida hurricane tax-free supplies holiday?

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Save on hurricane supplies between Aug. 24 and Sept. 6. This will be the final tax-free holiday for 2024 when it comes to emergency supplies and it comes during the busiest period of the hurricane season.

Can’t afford a generator or weeks of food? Here are the basics you should have on hand.

Eligible items included in the tax-free holiday include:

  • A portable generator used to provide light or communications or preserve food in the event of a power outage with a sales price of $3,000 or less.
  • A tarp or other flexible waterproof sheeting with a sales price of $100 or less.
  • An item normally sold as, or generally advertised as, a ground anchor system or tie-down kit with a sales price of $100 or less.
  • A smoke detector or smoke alarm with a sales price of $70 or less.
  • A fire extinguisher with a sales price of $70 or less.
  • A carbon monoxide detector with a sales price of $70 or less.
  • A nonelectric food storage cooler with a sales price of $60 or less.
  • A portable power bank with a sales price of $60 or less.
  • A gas or diesel fuel tank with a sales price of $50 or less.
  • A portable self-powered radio, two-way radio, or weather-band radio with a sales price of $50 or less.
  • A package of AA-cell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt, or 9-volt batteries, excluding automobile and boat batteries, with a sales price of $50 or less.
  • A portable self-powered light source (powered by battery, solar, hand-crank, or gas) with a sales price of $40 or less, including: flashlights, lanterns and candles.
  • Eligible light sources and radios qualify for the exemption, even if electrical cords are included in the purchase.
  • Reusable ice (ice packs) with a sales price of $20 or less.

➤ See full list of items, including pet and cleaning supplies, exempt from sales tax

When is the Atlantic hurricane season?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.

When is the peak of hurricane season?

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The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.

National Hurricane Center map: What are forecasters watching now?

Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center include:

Interactive map: Hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed near your city

Excessive rainfall forecast

What’s next? 

We will continue to update our tropical weather coverage daily. Download your local site’s app to ensure you’re always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here. 



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Toddler dies by drowning in Pembroke Pines amid record deaths in Florida: Police

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Toddler dies by drowning in Pembroke Pines amid record deaths in Florida: Police


A toddler died by drowning on Sunday in Pembroke Pines, according to authorities.

The child, who was about 1-and-a-half years old, was found unresponsive in the area of Southwest 118th Avenue and Southwest 7th Street, Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue said.

They were rushed to Memorial Hospital West, but “despite all lifesaving efforts, we are saddened to confirm the child died,” police said.

Authorities did not provide more information about what led to the drowning, besides that there was no indication that the incident was criminal in nature.

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So far in 2025, 112 children have died in the state of Florida due to drowning, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families. That is six more children than last year, and the most reported by the department since 2007.

According to Water Smart FL, DCF’s initiative offering vouchers for swimming lessons, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death to children ages 1 to 4.

“Drowning is fast, silent, and can happen to anyone. It can happen in the few minutes a distraction can take you away from the water to answer the phone or run inside for a towel,” officials warn on the program’s website.



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Florida hires Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as football coach with six-year, $44.7 million deal

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Florida hires Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as football coach with six-year, .7 million deal


GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida hired Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as football coach Sunday, settling for its second choice after Lane Kiffin picked LSU over the Gators.

Sumrall finalized a six-year, $44.7 million contract that comes with incentives, according to a person familiar with the search. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because financial details were not released. The deal averages $7.45 million annually.

The 43-year-old Sumrall will remain with the 22nd-ranked Green Wave for the American Conference title game next week and through the College Football Playoff if Tulane makes the 12-team field.

The Gators also agreed to terms with longtime NFL executive Dave Caldwell as their general manager. Caldwell won a Super Bowl during his five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and built a roster that made the AFC title game in eight years (2013-20) with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also spent time with Atlanta, Indianapolis and Carolina.

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Caldwell is expected to help manage Florida’s salary cap and evaluate talent — essentially taking some things off Sumrall’s plate as college football moves closer to adopting NFL-style front offices.

Sumrall played linebacker at Kentucky (2002-04) and returned to his alma mater for a three-year stint before becoming Troy’s head coach in 2022. He won consecutive Sun Belt championships in two seasons with the Trojans and then enjoyed similar success at Tulane.

Sumrall is 19-7 in two years in New Orleans and led the Green Wave to the American championship game both seasons. So he has made four league title games in four years as a head coach. The Gators are hoping he’s Urban Meyer 2.0 and not Billy Napier 2.0.

“Not many coaches win big at two different non-Power programs, and even fewer do it as quickly as Jon has done it,” Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin said. “He joins rare company — coaches like Urban Meyer, Brian Kelly and Willie Fritz — who’ve delivered immediate success at multiple stops. Jon’s track record of rapid turnarounds speaks directly to his leadership and the culture he establishes.”

Sumrall had been considered a possibility at Auburn, Arkansas and Ole Miss. Florida made a late push when Kiffin’s interest in the Gators waned. Florida fans are likely to view him as a consolation prize, another gamble from a Group of Five conference.

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Sumrall replaces Napier, who was fired in mid-October and went 22-23 over four seasons in Gainesville. Napier was nicknamed “Sun Belt Billy” because he often looked in over his head in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference.

Going back to Louisiana for another G5 coach? And a defensive guy to boot? That’s a bold move for Stricklin, who is sure to draw the ire of the Florida faithful for failing to land Kiffin.

He was roundly booed at a championship celebration to honor men’s basketball coach Todd Golden and his title-winning team in April. Now, the fan base is calling for his job.

A website titled FireScottStricklin.com documents Stricklin’s shortcomings, and some fans organized a rally Sunday outside Florida Field to promote Stricklin’s “immediate removal.”

But Stricklin seemingly has the support of the Board of Trustees, which gave him a three-year contract extension in June and allowed him to conduct a coaching search that included roughly 10 interviews without interference.

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There were rumors and reports about boosters getting involved and straining relationships with Kiffin and his camp. But Stricklin made it clear he was the only one making the hire. Kiffin chose LSU after a public tug-of-war involving all three schools.

Kiffin’s family members took scouting trips to Gainesville and Baton Rouge, and he met with administrators and fundraisers on several occasions. The trip to Gainesville was underwhelming, according to people familiar with the search, and high school football in the area left plenty to be desired.

Florida even turned to Heisman Trophy winners Steve Spurrier and Danny Wuerffel during its pursuit of Kiffin, who eventually slowed communication with UF officials to the point where the Gators decided they had to move on in a crowded market.

Now, Sumrall will be counted on to lead a downtrodden program back to prominence in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference.

Tulane’s numbers are far from gaudy: The Green Wave rank 39th in the country in total offense and 64th in total defense. Sumrall is expected to hire outside coordinators to help him rebuild in Gainesville.

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The Gators (4-8) clearly have talent and ended a dismal season with one of their best performances, a 40-21 victory against rival Florida State in the Swamp in which running back Jadan Baugh ran for a career-high 266 yards and two touchdowns and DJ Lagway threw for three scores.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.



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Ukrainian delegation to meet US officials in Florida for fresh talks on Trump’s plan to end war | CNN

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Ukrainian delegation to meet US officials in Florida for fresh talks on Trump’s plan to end war | CNN


A Ukrainian delegation will meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in Florida later Sunday for the latest round of negotiations over the US-backed plan to end the war.

Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will also attend the meeting in Miami, a White House official told CNN.

Ukraine is seeking international security guarantees as part of any agreement to end the war and a ceasefire based on the current frontlines. It has rejected ceding any territory not already occupied by Russian forces.

But Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has shown little signal he’s ready to offer concessions, saying that the war would only end “once Ukrainian troops withdraw from the territories they occupy.”

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Rubio met the Ukrainian team in Geneva last weekend, but since then the lead Ukrainian negotiator, Andriy Yermak, has resigned amid a corruption scandal. Yermak’s place has been taken by Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.

The Geneva meeting substantially amended the original 28-point blueprint developed by Witkoff and Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian sovereign wealth fund and a Kremlin special envoy.

Ukraine’s European allies said that the original plan – which was seen as highly favorable to Russia – would require “additional work.”

Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov said last week the Kremlin had received the latest version of the plan.

“This isn’t an official one, but we do have the document. We haven’t discussed it with anyone yet because the points in it require truly serious analysis and discussion,” Ushakov said.

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After suggesting that he wanted Ukraine to agree to a deal by Thursday of last week, Trump backed away from imposing any kind of deadline.

“You know what the deadline for me is? When it’s over,” he said.

The negotiations come against a backdrop of persistent Russian missile and drone attacks against cities and infrastructure across Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that in the last week, Russia had used nearly 1,400 attack drones, 1,100 guided aerial bombs, and 66 missiles in attacks.

For its part, Ukraine continues to target Russian energy and defense infrastructure with long-range drones and domestically manufactured missiles. Ukraine also used maritime drones on Friday and Saturday in strikes in the Black Sea against two sanctioned oil tankers used to ship Russian oil.

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The two tankers, which flew under the Gambian flag, were damaged but not sunk.

As the negotiations continue, Ukraine’s former military chief of staff, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who is considered a potential rival to Zelensky, wrote in the Daily Telegraph Sunday that “war does not always end with the victory of one side and the defeat of the other.”

“We Ukrainians strive for complete victory, but we cannot reject the option of a long-term end to the war,” Zaluzhnyi wrote.



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