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Heat index soars as storm chances ramp up Thursday afternoon. Here’s the latest.

Scattered strong to severe storms possible

ORLANDO, Fla. – Another hot and humid day is ahead for Central Florida, with temperatures climbing well into the 90s and scattered afternoon thunderstorms expected to develop as sea breezes collide across the area.

Light south to southwest winds will allow the east coast sea breeze to move inland, where it will eventually collide with the west coast sea breeze and help spark scattered showers and storms. The highest storm coverage is expected between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., especially across the interior of Central Florida.

While not everyone will see rain, a few storms could become strong. The main threats include frequent lightning, wind gusts up to 55 mph, small hail, and torrential downpours.

Before storms arrive, heat will once again be a major concern. Afternoon highs are expected to reach the low to mid 90s, with humidity pushing heat index values into the 100 to 105 degree range.

WEEKEND OUTLOOK

Looking ahead, the hot pattern is expected to continue through the weekend. Latest models show a large ridge of high pressure overhead keeping rain chances limited through the weekend. Along with drier air, a large plume of Saharan dust is expected to arrive into the area. The lack of rain, temperatures will stay well above normal, with some locations possibly approaching the upper 90s by the end of the weekend.