ORLANDO, Fla. – Central Florida will see a fairly typical summer weather pattern over the next couple of days, but a surge of tropical moisture is expected to arrive by the end of the week, bringing a better chance for more showers and storms.
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY
A shift to an onshore wind pattern will bring scattered showers and thunderstorms back to the forecast each afternoon, with the greatest coverage expected inland as the Atlantic sea breeze moves west. Rain chances will range from around 20 to 30 percent along the coast today and 50 to 60 percent inland, increasing slightly on Thursday.
Any stronger storms will be capable of producing frequent lightning, wind gusts up to 50 mph, and torrential rainfall that could quickly drop 2 to 4 inches in some locations.
High temperatures will reach the upper 80s to lower 90s, with heat index values climbing to around 100 degrees during the afternoon.
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
Attention then turns to a tropical disturbance moving west across the Atlantic. While this feature is not expected to become an organized system, it will transport a deeper plume of tropical moisture into Florida Friday and early Saturday.
Rain chances increase to 60 to 80 percent Friday as bands of showers move onshore during the morning before thunderstorms become more widespread inland through the afternoon.
By Saturday, some of the deepest moisture begins to lift north, but scattered to numerous afternoon storms are still expected.
Persistent easterly winds will also create rougher surf and increase the risk of dangerous rip currents at area beaches heading into the weekend.
LOOKING AHEAD
More typical summertime weather returns Sunday into early next week as high pressure becomes the dominant weather feature again.
Afternoon sea breeze storms will remain in the forecast, but overall coverage should gradually decrease.
With fewer storms around, temperatures will trend hotter, with highs climbing into the low and middle 90s and heat index values approaching 105 degrees.