Orlando residents and visitors should prepare for a mix of weather conditions today, with possible light showers along the coast this morning and scattered thunderstorms cropping up inland after 18Z, the National Weather Service in Melbourne reported. The weather shift is due to a frontal boundary moving southward, bringing with it, a chance of convection focused south of Orlando and west of I-95. Travelers, beware: flight visibility and ceiling may be temporarily reduced due to thunderstorms, particularly between 17-19Z for the Treasure Coast terminals.
For beachgoers, an important note: the long-period swells from the distant Hurricane Ernesto are expected to cause rough surf and a high risk of rip currents starting Friday and into the weekend. While Orlando's temperatures will stick close to normal with anticipated highs in the upper 80s near the coast and low 90s inland, dewpoints will hover in the mid to upper 70s – making it feel quite sticky outside.
Boating conditions are slated to worsen from today into tonight, with breezy northeast winds and onshore swells building up to 6 feet offshore as Hurricane Ernesto makes its presence felt from afar. The National Weather Service has issued a Small Craft Advisory effective from 2 AM to 8 PM EDT Friday for the offshore waters from Sebastien Inlet northward. Mariners are advised to exercise caution, particularly near inlets during the outgoing tide on Friday.
Drier air is expected to bring some relief this weekend with a drop in humidity levels and a decrease in rain chances. This brief respite will maintain lower rain probabilities, particularly south of Orlando on Friday, and even drier on Saturday with increased sunshine. By early next week, however, the heat and humidity will make their return as another front approaches the area, promising a spike in temperatures and rain chances across east-central Florida.
