ORLANDO, Fla. – Central Florida is settling back into a more familiar summertime pattern this week, with scattered afternoon storms returning to the forecast while heat builds back through midweek.
MONDAY & TUESDAY
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop Monday afternoon and evening, with rain chances around 50 to 60 percent before decreasing slightly on Tuesday (30-40%).
Tuesday’s storms may begin a little earlier than usual across northern portions of Central Florida before expanding south through the afternoon and evening hours.
A few stronger storms could produce wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph, frequent lightning, small hail, and locally heavy rainfall of 1 to 3 inches.
Temperatures will climb into the low to mid 90s Monday afternoon, with heat index values reaching 102 to 107 degrees during the hottest part of the day.
MIDWEEK
Saharan dust will continue filtering into Florida through the middle of the week, helping to suppress storm development while creating hazy skies and more vibrant sunrises and sunsets. The dust may also contribute to moderate air quality levels at times, particularly for those sensitive to air pollution.
As rain chances decrease Wednesday and Thursday, temperatures are expected to climb back into the mid-90s across much of Central Florida.
Combined with the humidity, heat index values will once again push into the 102 to 107 degree range during the afternoon, bringing another round of widespread moderate to major heat impacts before a more typical summertime storm pattern returns heading into next weekend.