Sunshine Leads Friday Before Weekend Storm Chances Build on Treasure Coast

TODAY: A pleasant start to the weekend — partly sunny skies clear into a mostly sunny afternoon, with highs in the mid-80s. East winds build from five to 10 mph in the morning to 10 to 15 mph by late afternoon and sunset, the National Weather Service said. No meaningful rain threat today. If you need a day to pour concrete, launch the boat or put the family on the beach, Friday is your cleanest shot of the next three days.

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy with lows in the mid-70s. Southeast winds five to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph — enough to rock a vessel at anchor. Secure loose lines before turning in.

THIS WEEK: The pattern shifts incrementally through the weekend. Saturday brings partly sunny skies and a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms late in the morning, with east winds 10 to 15 mph gusting to 25 mph and highs again in the mid-80s — winds noticeably stiffer than Friday. That same 20% rain chance lingers into Saturday night. Sunday is the day to watch: rain odds climb to 40%, with showers possible throughout the day and thunderstorm chances increasing late in the afternoon and toward sunset, forecasters said. This early-May pattern mirrors the leading edge of the Treasure Coast's transition into rainy season — last year, the region recorded its first significant afternoon convective activity in the second week of May, and Sunday's setup tracks closely with that onset signature.

ON THE WATER: Coastal winds stay manageable Friday — east at five to 15 mph — but build to 10 to 15 mph with 25 mph gusts by Saturday, making for a choppier ride offshore. The snowbird asking whether to take the boat out Saturday gets a qualified yes for the morning, with a hard deadline: be back at the dock before noon, ahead of any developing afternoon cells. Anglers working the nearshore reefs along St. Lucie and Indian River inlets should target the early morning window Friday and Saturday, when east winds haven't yet stacked the chop. The building easterly flow this time of year pushes baitfish along the beach, concentrating them near Sebastian Inlet's north jetty — a half-ounce jig worked along the rock line in the first two hours of an outgoing tide Friday morning gives anglers the best odds before weekend conditions deteriorate.

ALERTS: No active NWS watches, warnings or advisories are in effect for Martin, St. Lucie or Indian River counties at time of publication.

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