Orlando rolled into Wednesday, July 15, under mostly clear skies, but the real story is the heat building through the day. Afternoon highs will climb to around 94°F, with a slight chance of showers or thunderstorms popping up after about 3 p.m. A light west wind around 5 to 10 mph will do little to cut the humidity, and heat-index values are expected to push into the low 100s across much of the metro.
Afternoon Storms And Beach Risk
A west-coast sea breeze is expected to push inland this afternoon and run into a weaker east-coast breeze late in the day, setting up the best window for scattered storms. Coverage could be a bit lower than usual thanks to some drier air overhead, but any storm that does bubble up may pack frequent lightning, brief heavy downpours and isolated wind gusts up to 55 mph. Atlantic beaches face a moderate rip-current risk this afternoon, so swim near lifeguards and follow the flags, according to the NWS forecast for Orlando.
Beat The Heat
There will not be much relief after sunset. Humidity will keep overnight lows stuck in the mid to upper 70s, and those afternoon feels-like readings will top 100°F in spots. If you need to be outside, try to get work done during the cooler morning hours and drink plenty of water. Check in on neighbors, children, and pets, and consider heading to air-conditioned public spaces if your home does not have reliable cooling.
This Week's Trend
Moisture is expected to increase Thursday into next week, which will boost rain and storm chances each afternoon. Coverage is forecast around 30 to 50 percent on Thursday and near 50 percent late in the week into early next week. Temperatures should hold in the low to mid 90s, with repeated muggy afternoons and the same potential for gusty, lightning-producing storms. For the latest timing and any changes to beach conditions, see the National Weather Service in Melbourne.
