How will showers and thunderstorms affect searching at the Surfside building collapse?
Rain began falling Friday morning as crews continued to search through the rubble for people in the partially collapsed condo tower in Surfside. The forecast is calling for more downpours in South Florida. The National Weather Service says theres a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms in Surfside and Miami Beach through the early afternoon. The rain chance then drops to 20% to 30% for Friday night, but it will pick up again for the weekend. The rest of coastal Miami-Dade and Broward counties are also forecast to see showers and thunderstorms through Sunday. Between a tenth and quarter of an inch of new rainfall is forecast to fall Friday in Surfside, with higher amounts possible in thunderstorms, according to the weather service. Rain continues falling  and smoke blowing in wind  in Surfside as crews use heavy machinery to remove debris from Champlain Tower. pic.twitter.com/ZWYr0RdJqV  Martin Vassolo (@martindvassolo) June 25, 2021  While rescue crews can work through the rain, they cant work through lightning for safety reasons. So far, there hasn't been any lightning this Friday morning. Although there have been a few quick showers, overall the weather is cooperating for the most part for the first responders & crews in #Surfside But storms likely develop later today. Watch @CBSmiami for details #CBS4 pic.twitter.com/CaMXOTqbG8  Lissette Gonzalez (@LissetteCBS4) June 25, 2021  Around 9:30 a.m., moderate to heavy rain began soaking Surfside but it is moving west, said Lissette Gonzalez, meteorologist for Miami Herald news partner CBS4. The good news is that South Florida is forecast to see east winds around 15 mph and gusts as high as 21 mph. The strong breeze should help the showers move along fairly quickly toward the west, Gonzalez said. At 10 a.m., winds were gusting up to 30 mph in Surfside, said Local 10 Meteorologist Brandon Orr. He posted video online of debris falling from the upper floors of whats left of Champlain Towers South Condo. Crews are now trying to knock down debris before it falls on its own, he said. Heres some of the debris falling from upper floors of whats left of Champlain Towers in Surfside. Winds are gusting up to 30mph on the leading edge of occasional downpours. Crews are now trying to knock down loose debris before it falls on its own. pic.twitter.com/egDw4GWW3G  Brandon Orr (@BrandonOrrWPLG) June 25, 2021  More rain is also expected during the weekend. The forecast is calling for a 40% to 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms.