ORLANDO, Fla. – Another active day is ahead for Central Florida, but the forecast is beginning to shift.
Storms will be most widespread today before a change in wind direction pushes the highest rain chances inland during the second half of the week.
Another surge of tropical moisture could then bring a wetter pattern back by Friday and Saturday.
Tuesday
Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon, with the greatest coverage along and east of I-95 as storms interact with the Atlantic sea breeze. Rain chances range from 50-60% across the interior to 70-80% along the coast.
The strongest storms may produce wind gusts between 40 and 50 mph, frequent lightning, and torrential downpours.
Outside of the storms, highs will climb into the low 90s with heat index values between 100 and 105 degrees.
Midweek
By Wednesday and Thursday, winds will turn onshore as high pressure builds north of Florida. That means coastal communities will have a better chance of staying drier during the afternoon, while the highest storm coverage shifts toward the interior and west of Interstate 95.
Rain chances will lower to around 30-50% along the coast and 50-70% inland, with any stronger storms still capable of gusty winds and heavy rainfall.
Late week
Forecast models continue to show another area of tropical moisture approaching Florida late this week. While there are still questions about its exact track and strength, the forecast continues to point toward increasing rain chances Friday and Saturday, with coverage around 60-80%.
It’s too early to pinpoint where the heaviest rain may fall, but the wetter pattern could lead to periods of heavy downpours if bands of rain repeatedly move over the same locations.
Next week
By Sunday and into the first week of the school year, the deeper tropical moisture is expected to lift north, allowing rain chances to return closer to a typical August pattern.
Daily afternoon storms will remain in the forecast, with temperatures climbing back into the low to mid 90s under hot and humid conditions.