ORLANDO, Fla. – Scorching summer days continue through Thursday before a rare cold front ushers in comfortable weather for the weekend.
Wednesday & Thursday:
A slow-moving cold front over north Florida will gradually sink into Central Florida over the next two days. Ahead of the boundary, a hot and humid airmass remains in place.
The added instability from the front will keep rain chances at 50-60% through Thursday with a few strong storms developing. The main hazards will be gusty winds, lighting and locally heavy rainfall.
High temperatures are forecast to soar above average, into the mid 90s. When combined with the high humidity, peak heat indices will exceed 108 degrees. Because of this, a heat advisory has been issued for Central Florida through Wednesday evening.
Friday-Weekend:
Some relief from the heat will finally arrive as the cold front clears Central Florida by Friday. This boundary will drag in drier air, making conditions feel much more comfortable.
While highs will remain near normal in the low 90s, heat risk remains lows with no rain around.
Tropics:
The same front bringing Central Floridians some temperature relief, will be the vital weather feature keeping Ernesto away from the Eastern Seaboard.
As Ernesto tracks north toward Bermuda, intensity forecast show it strengthening into a major (Category 3) hurricane by the weekend.
While models agree that Ernesto will remain more than 800 miles off the Florida coast, it will be roughing up beach and boating conditions locally. Forecasts calls for long period swells, choppy seas, rough surf and a high risk of rip currents.
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