ORLANDO,Fla. – Our typical summer weather pattern is settling into Central Florida, bringing increasing chances for afternoon storms, rising humidity and dangerous heat through the weekend.
We are not expecting widespread severe weather, but a few stronger storms could produce wind gusts between 40 and 50 mph, frequent lightning and torrential downpours.
Once again, on Thursday, these storms will move slowly. Heavy rainfall rates could lead to localized flooding in urban areas and other spots with poor drainage. The highest rain chances today will develop near and west of Orlando as our sea breezes collide west of I-4 during the late afternoon and early evening.
Rain and storm coverage will continue to increase on Friday and through the weekend. Unlike recent days, storm chances will extend all the way to the coast, meaning beachgoers should keep an eye on the sky and be prepared to seek shelter if storms approach from inland areas.
Outside of the storms, we will continue to deal with building heat and humidity. Afternoon highs will climb into the low to mid-90s, with heat index values reaching the upper 90s to around 104 degrees on Thursday and Friday.
Over the weekend, heat indices are expected to rise even higher, ranging from 100 to 107 degrees.
If you’re heading to the beach, keep in mind that a moderate risk of dangerous rip currents continues along the Atlantic coast. Swimmers are urged to stay near lifeguards and use extra caution when entering the water.