ORLANDO, Fla. – Expect a warm Easter Sunday with a mix of sun and clouds, and most of us starting the day dry.
Rain chances climb into the 40 to 50 percent range this afternoon as temperatures warm into the mid to upper 80s inland, with lower 80s along the coast. That heat, combined with increasing moisture, will help fuel scattered showers and a few thunderstorms.
Along the coast, isolated showers could begin developing around midday as the east coast sea breeze sets up. Through the afternoon, storms will become more widespread and push inland, with the highest coverage expected where sea breezes collide later in the day.
A few of these storms could turn strong. The main concerns will be gusty winds up to around 40 to 45 mph, small hail, and frequent lightning. Some activity may drift back toward the coast into the evening before tapering off overnight.
If you have outdoor Easter plans, the morning will be your best window to stay dry. Just be ready to dodge a few showers and storms later in the day.
If your Easter plans include the beach, be aware there is a high risk of dangerous rip currents, and it’s safest to stay out of the water.
A strong cold front moves into Central Florida on Monday. We’ll start the day dry, but by the afternoon, rain chances jump to around 70 percent as the sea breeze interacts with the approaching front, helping spark scattered to numerous showers and storms.
The bigger story is what happens after that.
This front is expected to stall across the state, keeping rain chances elevated through much of the week. That will also bring a noticeable cooldown, with highs only reaching the 70s for several days.
Looking ahead, some models suggest we could pick up anywhere from 1 to 4 inches of rain over the next five days. That would go a long way in helping chip away at our ongoing drought, though locally heavier totals will be possible.