According to the National Weather Service, Melbourne, FL, Orlando residents should brace for another wet weather day. Showers and isolated lightning storms are expected throughout the area. Urban areas along the Space and Treasure Coasts are especially prone to standing water hazards due to slow-moving storms and repeat rain bands forecasted today.
The marine forecast isn't looking great either, with poor to hazardous boating conditions anticipated to show gradual improvement only later in the day, segueing into Thursday. However, beaches will continue to be plagued by a high risk of dangerous rip currents. On the plus side, Orlando temperatures are expected to hover above normal today, with some neighborhoods possibly experiencing lower 80s. However, this heat streak is set to break with much cooler weather incoming by the weekend. That's the latest from a report issued by the National Weather Service at 208 AM EST on Wednesday, Dec 18.
In the discussion section of the weather update, a marginal risk for excessive rainfall is forecasted again today across some areas of the Treasure Coast owing to deep moisture surges and a cold front moving into the southeast U.S. These conditions are expected to pose primary storm threats like heavy rainfall, occasional lightning strikes, and gusty winds, significantly closer towards the Space and Treasure coasts.
Travelers via sea should note that the Small Craft Advisory remains offshore until 10 AM this morning due to seas reaching a high of around 7 ft. At the same time, nearshore marine areas from Volusia-Brevard County county line through Jupiter Inlet also warrant caution due to seas up to 6 ft. Hopefully, as the waters die, the need for Cautionary Statements offshore will lapse by Thursday morning, with seas predicted to build again late Friday through Saturday behind the latest cold front. Aviation reports suggest possible MVFR conditions due to coastal convergence and unsettled weather near and south of KMLB overnight, resulting in scattered showers and isolated storms with opportunities for visibility reductions around sunrise, especially across the Space and Treasure Coasts.
