Sunday morning, May 24, started off clear, sticky and already warm in Orlando, with temperatures around 75°F at Orlando Executive Airport. That quiet start will not stick around for long, though, as showers and thunderstorms are expected to fire up after 1 p.m. If your plans involve being outside later today, it is a good idea to have an indoor backup.
Afternoon Storms Could Be Strong
The most active window for showers and thunderstorms runs from about 1 p.m. into the early evening. The high should reach near 89°F before storms roll through, with readings sliding into the mid-80s once the rain moves in. Southeast winds are forecast around 5 to 15 mph with gusts near 20 mph under normal conditions, but forecasters at the National Weather Service say the strongest storms could pack brief gusts around 40 to 45 mph, frequent lightning, and torrential downpours capable of dropping 2 to 4 inches of rain in localized spots, which may cause minor flooding, according to NWS Melbourne.
Rip Currents and Beach Safety
The same office has extended a High Risk of life-threatening rip currents through Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, which means Atlantic beaches east of Orlando remain unsafe for swimming. Lifeguards and beach officials are strongly urging visitors to stay out of the surf entirely, and to swim only near staffed lifeguard towers if they do head to the coast.
What To Expect This Week
Memorial Day itself looks a bit less stormy, with lower rain chances and highs near 90°F, but the quieter pattern does not last long. By midweek, rain and storm coverage is expected to ramp back up from Wednesday through the end of the week, with repeated downpours possible. For more background on the ongoing rip current threat and earlier local weather coverage, see how a sunny Orlando morning turned swampy.
