ORLANDO, Fla. – If you’re planning to be outside this weekend, Central Florida’s heat is not holding back.
Afternoon high temperatures will reach the lower 90s across Orlando and surrounding areas.
But the real story is the heat index — what the weather actually feels like.
Most areas will feel over 100 degrees, with some locations reaching a heat index of 103.
Planning a theme park trip or outdoor adventure? Make sure to hydrate and bring rain gear, just in case of a stray shower.
The forecast also calls for pop-up showers and possible storms through the afternoon and evening hours, though these will be scattered and not everyone will see rain.
If you’ve noticed hazy skies lately, you can thank a surge of Saharan dust over Florida.
The dust is doing more than changing how the sky looks. It’s also expected to significantly reduce rain chances Friday, dropping the probability to around 20%. The dust brings in dry, warm air that keeps storm development to a minimum.
[VIDEO BELOW: What is Saharan dust?]
The presence of Saharan dust is also causing air quality to struggle, currently sitting at a “moderate” rating. While that level is still considered acceptable for most, anyone with asthma or respiratory conditions should consider limiting time outdoors.
Looking ahead, there’s no tropical activity expected in the coming days. The National Hurricane Center is not highlighting any systems for development in the Atlantic right now.
The local seven-day outlook shows the heat sticking around, with highs in the mid-90s and lows in the mid-70s.
Rain chances are set to rise slowly—expect a 30% shot at storms Saturday and Sunday, increasing to 50 to 60% as the new workweek kicks off.
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