Orlando woke Friday to sticky air and temperatures in the mid-70s, while much of the region remained mostly dry, but the calm will not last. Afternoon thunderstorms are expected to move in after lunch, followed by a sharp turn toward cooler, windier weather for the weekend.
Storms Arrive After Lunch
The National Weather Service in Melbourne expects showers and thunderstorms to develop Friday afternoon and evening. Friday’s high should reach about 90 degrees.
The overall chance of rain is around 60%, and stronger storms could bring frequent lightning, heavy downpours and wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Localized flooding is possible where heavier showers repeat, with some storms capable of dropping 2 to 4 inches of rain in a short period.
Cooler, Windier Weekend Ahead
Showers and thunderstorms may linger Friday evening before tapering overnight. Saturday will be noticeably cooler, with a high near 81, a 40% chance of rain and north-northeast winds that could gust to around 30 mph.
The updated outlook is a sharper turn from Thursday’s mostly sunny setup, which Hoodline previously described as the last quiet stretch before the weekend shift. By Sunday, Orlando should see mostly sunny skies and a high near 77, but northeast winds of 15 to 20 mph could gust as high as 40 mph.
Beach Trips May Be A Bad Bet
Central Florida’s Atlantic coast faces the roughest conditions as the front moves through. The National Weather Service is warning of rough surf, large breaking waves, dangerous rip currents and moderate beach erosion through the weekend and into next week, so residents and visitors should stay out of the water.
For Orlando, Friday morning offers the easiest window for outdoor plans, while Saturday and Sunday look better suited to flexible schedules, umbrellas and a little patience. The unsettled pattern is expected to continue into early next week, with breezy northeast winds and occasional coastal showers.
