Heat could fuel strong to severe storms across Central Florida this afternoon
HERITAGE PARK. WILL BE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT FOR THAT. HOPEFULLY THEY WON’T HAVE TO DODGE TOO MUCH RAIN. YEAH, THE SHOWERS DON’T LOOK THAT BAD ON SUNDAY AND IT’S MOSTLY GOING TO BE LATE IN THE AFTERNOON AND BETTER SHOT FOR RAIN, I THINK ON SATURDAY AS WE TAKE A LIVE LOOK AT OUR RADAR THIS MOMENT, WE DO HAVE A STRONG THUNDERSTORM THAT’S MOVING OUT OF MARION COUNTY, HEADING NORTHEAST TOWARDS ALACHUA, AS WELL AS PUTNAM COUNTIES. BUT WE’RE SEEING SOME VERY HEAVY RAIN AND LOTS OF LIGHTNING ASSOCIATED WITH IT IN NORTHERN MARION COUNTY, RIGHT OVER CITRA AS WE SPEAK. REDDICK AS WELL. WE ARE SEEING THAT HEAVY RAIN JUST NORTH OF REDDICK AND RIGHT ALONG 301 THERE IN OCALA. ALSO TRACKING LOTS OF HEAVY RAIN JUST EAST OF DUNNELLON. THIS IS HEADING INTO MARION OAKS. AS WE SPEAK, YOU CAN SEE ABOUT 5 TO 6 LIGHTNING STRIKES WITH THAT. AS THIS IS HEADING EAST ACROSS MARION COUNTY. WE’RE ALSO TRACKING COUPLE SHOWERS THIS AFTERNOON AND BY THE SPACE COAST TITUSVILLE, GETTING IN SOME LIGHT SHOWERS AS WELL AS KSC. AND WE’RE ALSO SEEING SOME RAIN IN FAR SOUTHERN BREVARD COUNTY. YOU SEE JUST WEST OF NORTH WICKHAM ROAD THERE AND ALSO HEADING NORTH TOWARDS ROCKLEDGE. SO AS THE SEA BREEZES WORK THEIR WAY INLAND, WE’RE GOING TO SEE THAT RAIN COVERAGE INCREASE. SO BY ABOUT 3 TO 4:00, A FEW SHOWERS AND STORMS AROUND HEIGHTS. RAIN COVERAGE THIS FRIDAY WILL BE AROUND FIVE, SIX, 7:00 AS THE SEA BREEZES MOVE INLAND AND COLLIDE. AND NOTICE THE COVERAGE, MOSTLY INTERIOR LOCATIONS. I WOULD SAY A LOT. I4 AND I-75 NOTICE BY SEVEN 8:00, STORMS START TO BACKFILL TO THE WEST ALONG I-75. A LOT OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY TO CONTEND WITH. 96 IS A FEEL-LIKE TEMPERATURE RIGHT NOW IN DELAND AS WELL AS THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL FEELS LIKE 107 RIGHT NOW IN SAINT CLOUD. SO HOT AND STEAMY AFTERNOON. IF YOU’RE HEADING OUTDOORS TODAY, MAKE SURE YOU GRAB THAT RAIN GEAR YOU’RE GOING TO NEED, ESPECIALLY AROUND DINNER TIME. AND ONCE THE SUN GOES DOWN, WE START TO LOSE THAT DAYTIME HEATING AND HENCE THE INTENSITY OF THOSE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL GO DOWN. UPCOMING WEEKEND 50% CHANCE OF RAIN ON SATURDAY. I WILL SAY SUNDAY LOOKS TO BE A LITTLE BIT NICER THAN SATURDAY IN TERMS OF RAIN COVERAGE. ABOUT ONLY A 40% CHANCE OF RAIN. THE STORMS DON’T LOOK AS POTENT ON SUNDAY EITHER. QUICK CHECK OF THE TROPICS. ALL IS QUIET OUT THERE. NO DEVELOPMENT EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS. AND THE GOOD NEWS IS, AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE SAHARAN DUST, BIG PLUME OF DUST, KEEPING THINGS REALLY QUIET IN THE TROPICS. SOME THAT DUST COULD BE HEADING IN OUR DIRECTION FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK. SO HEADS UP ON THAT. IF YOU NOTICE SOME HAZY SKIES, THAT IS LIKELY THE REASON WHY, AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR CENTRAL FLORIDA CERTIFIED MOST ACCURATE SEVEN DAY FORECAST, RAIN CHANCES GO UP AS WE HEAD INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. NOTICE WE GO FROM A 50% CHANCE OF RAIN ON SATURDAY TO ABOUT A 40% COVERAGE ON SUNDAY, AND THEN A HIGHER COVERAGE MONDAY AND TUESDAY WITH A 70% CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THA
Heat could fuel strong to severe storms across Central Florida this afternoon
Updated: 2:09 PM EDT Jun 26, 2026
Heat is building across Central Florida on Friday, helping fuel a few strong storms that could briefly reach severe limits later this afternoon and evening.As the sea breezes move inland, a few pulse-type storms may develop. The main concerns will be gusty winds and locally heavy rain, with some hail also possible.A brief severe storm cannot be ruled out as the sea breezes collide around mid-evening.Rainfall totals in the heaviest storms will generally range from 1 to 2 inches.Looking aheadThe heat will continue through the weekend, along with daily chances of storms. Storm coverage is expected to increase next week as a weather feature moves across northern Florida, bringing a better chance for widespread rain.First Warning Weather Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.RadarSevere Weather AlertsDownload the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts. The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Marquise Meda, Cam Tran and Victoria Wisniewski.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Heat is building across Central Florida on Friday, helping fuel a few strong storms that could briefly reach severe limits later this afternoon and evening.
As the sea breezes move inland, a few pulse-type storms may develop.
The main concerns will be gusty winds and locally heavy rain, with some hail also possible.
A brief severe storm cannot be ruled out as the sea breezes collide around mid-evening.
Rainfall totals in the heaviest storms will generally range from 1 to 2 inches.
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Looking ahead
The heat will continue through the weekend, along with daily chances of storms.
Storm coverage is expected to increase next week as a weather feature moves across northern Florida, bringing a better chance for widespread rain.
First Warning Weather
Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.
Download the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts.
The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Marquise Meda, Cam Tran and Victoria Wisniewski.