ORLANDO, Fla. – Although Nate doesn't pose a direct threat to Central Florida, residents will still feel some of its effects by the weekend.
As Hurricane Nate continues to move northwest across the Gulf of Mexico, tropical moisture associated with it will begin to flow into the area.
At 11:30 p.m., the National Hurricane Center said the storm had strengthened into a hurricane. It was about 495 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River.
"By Saturday and Sunday, expect mostly cloudy skies with about a 40-50 percent chance of afternoon storms," News 6 meteorologist Candace Campos said. "Max highs will hover near 90 degrees, with lows in the mid- to upper 70s."
A coastal flood advisory will remain in effect through Saturday afternoon due to elevated water levels along the intracoastal waterway and Atlantic surf zone during the high tides.
"As we head into next week, Nate will move further inland along the north Gulf Coast states, dragging in drier air for us locally," Campos said.
Drier air will keep rain chances between 20 and 30 percent.