ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida summers feel brutally hot but believe it or not, hitting 100 degrees is actually pretty rare in Central Florida. That’s because two key things usually work in our favor: high humidity and cooling sea breezes.
The moisture in the air acts like a heat cap. While it makes things feel hotter, it limits big swings in temperatures. This is why desert weather can see extreme hot and cold weather in the summer but in the tropics, the weather stays steady day to night.
The sea breezes also play a big role in balancing our summer temperatures. During the day the ocean sends in a breeze, cooling the air and triggering cooling storms.
But this weekend, that natural daytime cooling is breaking down.
A strong ridge of high pressure is moving in and parking over the Southeast, reducing rain chances and weakening the sea breeze.
With this setup, inland areas like Orlando and Sanford will bake under widespread mid-to-upper 90s, with a descent shot at hitting 100 in a few spots.
The last time that happened? Orlando reached 100 on Aug. 12, 2023, and Sanford did it more recently on July 6, 2024.
While the coast will also feel the heat, places like Daytona Beach and Melbourne are even less likely to reach triple digits due to their proximity to the ocean.
That consistent onshore influence helps regulate afternoon temperatures. Still, it’s not impossible as Daytona Beach last hit 100 on July 23, 2022. Melbourne hasn’t seen 100 since July 14, 2011.
Even if official air temps stay just below 100, humidity will push heat index values up to 110 or higher, especially during the afternoon.
While triple-digit temperatures are rare in Florida, this weekend may bring the closest brush we’ve had in a while.
Stay hydrated, limit time outdoors and watch for signs of heat-related illness.