ORLANDO, Fla. – A brief break in Central Florida’s typical summer storm pattern continues Wednesday as Saharan dust keeps a lid on afternoon storm coverage, but don’t expect the drier weather to last for long.
WEDNESDAY
Rain chances remain limited through the afternoon, with only isolated 20-30% showers and thunderstorms expected across the region. The best chance for storms will develop late in the day across eastern portions of Central Florida as sea breeze boundaries collide and push activity toward the coast and eventually offshore.
The Saharan Air Layer lingering overhead is helping suppress storm development, but any storms that do manage to form could still become strong, producing lightning, gusty winds, and heavier downpours.
Temperatures will once again climb into the low to mid 90s this afternoon, with feels-like temperatures reaching 100 to 105 degrees during the hottest part of the day.
FRIDAY-WEEKEND
The quieter weather pattern begins to change on Thursday as Saharan dust gradually moves out and deeper tropical moisture returns. Rain and storm coverage is expected to increase heading into the end of the week and through the weekend, with scattered to numerous afternoon storms becoming more common once again (60-70%).
The one thing that won’t be changing anytime soon is the heat. High temperatures in the low to mid 90s and triple-digit heat indices are expected to continue through the upcoming week, with some areas potentially approaching Heat Advisory levels.