Residents of Orlando are bracing for more scattered showers and thunderstorms as the week progresses, with the sticky cloak of humidity ensuring the heat index remains stubbornly high. The latest update indicates that air moisture levels have climbed, further saturating the sultry summer atmosphere, and these conditions are expected to help cook up increased storm activity along the inland moving east coast sea breeze later today, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasts suggest Orlando's skies could see lightning strikes, gusty winds, and locally heavy rainfall of 1-3 inches leading to minor flooding in some areas the convective weather patterns collide somewhere near Lake County, pushing through the afternoon into the evening the heat index reaching a stifling 102-107F. Even though sea breezes may offer some respite, residents should stay hydrated and find shade or the comfort of air conditioning when possible, especially with high temperatures hitting the lower to mid-90s.
Boating might seem an appealing escape, but Southeastern winds and developing sea breezes could make conditions tricky up to 10-15 knots in the afternoon, as outlined by the local marine forecast, however, seas are mostly expected to remain at 2-3ft, with the possibility of reaching up to 4ft well offshore around the Cape from Wednesday night into Thursday. While most storm action is predicted to stay over land, the occasional storm over the Gulf Stream can't be ruled out, particularly overnight.
Into the weekend, any semblance of respite seems as transient as the breeze, with deeper moisture returning ushered in by a trough passing through the Northeast US, and this might set the stage for even more thunderstorm activity Sunday through Tuesday, despite prevailing southeasterly winds not just the heat that will keep Orlando's locals seeking cooler climes.
