ORLANDO, Fla. – If you’re heading out Thursday or making weekend plans in Central Florida, you’ll want to stay extra weather-aware as the threat for strong to severe storms lingers through the rest of the week.
THURSDAY & FRIDAY
A few coastal showers are possible for the first half of the day as an upper-level low spins just off the east coast of Florida, helping fuel more active afternoons.
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Storm chances will grow as the day goes on, especially Thursday afternoon and into the evening. While not everyone will see rain, there’s a 50–60% chance you will run into a passing storm, especially inland after the sea breezes get going.
A Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for severe weather remains in place through Friday as storms will have the potential to turn strong to severe. The storms could pack gusty winds up to 60 mph, along with dangerous lightning, small hail and heavy downpours.
Highs this week climb into the upper 80s to low 90s, but humidity will make it feel more like 100–105 degrees.
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WEEKEND
Storm chances increase even more heading into the weekend. Each afternoon, expect scattered to widespread storms, especially where sea breezes collide. Friday may see a few strong to borderline severe storms, similar to Thursday. The pattern stays unsettled through Sunday, so keep the rain gear handy and have a backup plan if you’re headed outdoors.
If you’re heading to the coast, keep an eye on the moderate rip current risk through the weekend.
4TH OF JULY
It’s still early, but long-range models suggest that stormy afternoons may stick around into early next week, including Independence Day.
We’ll be watching closely as another upper-level disturbance moves in, keeping deep moisture over the area. That could mean scattered storms during fireworks time, so stay tuned for updates as we get closer.