ORLANDO, Fla. – Get ready for an action-packed day of weather in east Central Florida!
A ground stop has been issued at Orlando International Airport until 4:30 p.m. due to thunderstorms, according to the FAA, bringing with it an average departure delay of some 105 minutes.
Departures to Orlando International are grounded due to thunderstorms. (...) Departures from Orlando International are delayed an avg. 105 mins. (and increasing)
FAA
A tornado watch is in effect until 5 p.m. for locations including Marion and Flagler counties.
TORNADO WATCH 52, PREVIOUSLY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON, IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS
IN FLORIDA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 4 COUNTIES
IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA
FLAGLER PUTNAM ST. JOHNS
IN NORTHERN FLORIDA
MARION
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ANASTASIA, ANTHONY, BAKERSVILLE, BOSTWICK, BURBANK, CARRAWAY, DURBIN, FRUIT COVE, OCALA, OCALA AIRPORT, PALATKA, PALM COAST, PALM VALLEY, PONTE VEDRA BEACH, SWITZERLAND, AND WEIRSDALE.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
[SEE THE LATEST WEATHER ALERTS IN YOUR AREA BY CLICKING HERE]
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We’ve got windy, warm conditions to start the day with showers and thunderstorms rolling in later this afternoon and evening.
Some of these storms have the potential to turn severe later in the day and evening hours. Due to this threat, the News 6 Pinpoint Weather Team has designated Sunday as a Weather Alert Day.
By Sunday afternoon, expect highs to climb into the mid to upper 80s across most of the region, with spots near and south of Orlando possibly hitting the low 90s. Along with the heat ahead of the front, we will also see wind gusts ranging from 25 to 35 mph, so a Wind Advisory will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today.
Forecast models continue to show the line of showers and storms pushing into north Central Florida by early afternoon. Last runs suggest that the storms will keep their strength as they approach early this afternoon, but things get a bit trickier when they move into our area later in the day.
The Storm Prediction Center has extended the Slight Risk (Level 2/5) for areas from Interstate 4 northward and a Marginal Risk (Level 1/5) for the rest of Central Florida.
Expect more scattered showers and storms to develop this evening, with some potentially strong wind gusts, hail, or even a brief tornado. Keep your eyes on the weather updates, especially after dark, and make sure you have a way to get alerts if necessary.
We are going to be tracking a line of storms into Marion and Flagler counties between 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The front will slowly track south through sunset, approaching the I-4 corridor through 10 p.m. and finally clearing southern counties by midnight.
Looking ahead to Monday and Tuesday, we’ll see a shift in winds as the cold front moves through. Winds will turn northwest on Monday morning, bringing cooler, drier air with them. Showers should wrap up by sunrise for most areas, with temperatures staying mild.
St. Patrick’s Day will still be breezy and temperatures will be much cooler, topping out in the upper 60s to mid 70s.
The coolest part of the week comes Tuesday morning, with most areas starting in the 40s (and low 50s at the coast).
We’ll see a little rebound in the afternoon, with highs in the 70s for most places (though Volusia and northern Brevard may stay in the upper 60s). Winds will shift to the northeast and it may be breezy again at the coast in the afternoon.
So, in short, today is going to be busy, with some stormy weather to watch out for later in the day. Stay safe and stay updated on the latest forecasts!