Orlando residents are facing a wet and potentially wild start to their week with the National Weather Service in Melbourne forecasting "scattered to numerous showers" ahead of an oncoming front. The forecast, which was released early Monday morning, warns of "strong to marginally severe thunderstorms and excessive rainfall risks" continuing through today. In a silver lining, drier conditions are expected to follow by Tuesday, with the latter half of the week projected to bring no rain and very warm temperatures. See the full forecast on the National Weather Service website for more details.
Today's storms follow early morning showers that drenched much of the peninsula, with broad rotation observed in heavier showers. The National Weather Service reported widespread rainfall accumulations of 1-3 inches are expected, with locally high amounts of 4-5 inches possible through this evening. Despite concerns, most areas are expected to cope well with this influx of rain thanks to prior drought conditions. Minor flooding, however, could develop in areas prone to poor drainage or those at lower elevations.
The maritime community isn’t spared either, with boating conditions remaining less than ideal. A front pushing through Florida today continues to prompt caution for small craft in the local Atlantic waters, where seas are reaching 4-5 feet. By Tuesday and Friday, boating is expected to become more favorable, though the heat will ramp up significantly, making for an increasingly sweltering experience on the water.
The forecast added that a warming trend is on the horizon for Orlando, with temperatures slated to climb well above normal into the mid to upper 90s by the weekend. While the immediate concern remains the current stormy weather, residents in the Orlando area can expect to transition to finding ways to stay cool in the coming days.
