ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s a classic Florida August with a steamy and stormy setup, but heading into the weekend, things are turning up a notch.
The heat and Tropical Storm Erin will be the two big weather stories you will want to stay ahead of.
Friday
It’s dangerously hot AGAIN across Central Florida, with heat index values reaching 105–110 degrees. A Heat Advisory remains in effect through 7 p.m.
Storm chances are lower than normal due to some drier air in place. But there will still be plenty of instability to see a few strong storms west of I-95. Expect strong wind gusts up to 55 mph, heavy downpours, lightning and possibly small hail.
Weekend
Rain and storm chances rise to 50–70% as high pressure releases its grip into early next week.
Most of the activity stays inland, though coastal areas could get in on the action as sea breezes kick up.
Even with more rain around, it’ll still feel oppressive, with heat advisories likely as “feels-like” temps stay near 110.
Watching Erin
Tropical Storm Erin is expected to stay well offshore, in part due to the high that brought us the extreme heat.
As the high shifts into the Atlantic, Erin will have a path it needs to curve back out into the Atlantic and away from the U.S. East Coast.
On its current track, Florida should avoid direct wind and rain impacts.
But starting Monday, long-period swells from the storm will make for dangerous surf and strong rip currents.
If you’re heading the beaches over the next several days, make sure to pay attention to beach warning flags and always swim near a lifeguard.
While confidence remains high that Erin will stay far offshore, make sure to stay weather-aware through the weekend.
We’ll keep you updated if anything changes.