Orlando weather: Near-record heat with growing drought conditions across Central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. - Friday's weather forecast offers a blend of clouds and sunshine, with the possibility of isolated showers. Anticipated precipitation stands at a minimal 10%, providing favorable conditions for outdoor activities. 

Fog may be present on Saturday morning in certain areas. Residents in the vicinity of I-75 are advised to remain vigilant as isolated showers or storms could occur late Saturday. 

Looking ahead to next Thursday, temperatures are expected to rise, with inland areas reaching the mid-90s and coastal regions hovering around 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity levels are forecast to remain moderate, mitigating the impact of the heat.

The upcoming weekend may experience sporadic sea breeze showers, particularly on Sunday, before precipitation chances diminish, paving the way for intensifying heat throughout the following week.

Threat of drought in Central Florida?

Typically, the true rainy season does not begin until the last week of May or the first week of June, when daily afternoon rain chances become more likely, providing relief from the dry season. As we transition from El Niño (a wetter winter pattern here in FL) to La Niña (a drier spring/early-summer pattern), our weekly rounds of rain have largely ended.

This will also help to warm local ocean waters, which ironically will start to increase our humidity levels, making for the muggy summer we all know and love and leading to those familiar torrential afternoon rains each day.

The other big story in the long term is that there will be little opportunity for rain next week, and instead, we may see our drought status rapidly deteriorate with a "heat dome" moving in. 

The US Drought Monitor released its once-weekly Thursday update, and with dry conditions and no relief in sight, southern Brevard County has been declared in moderate drought.

Moderate drought means different things for different sectors:

• For residents: When you're dealing with moderate drought, you might notice some changes in your everyday water use. Plus, you might see lower water levels in wells or reservoirs. Make sure you water your lawn in the evening or at night so it doesn't evaporate away during the day and has a chance to soak in.
• For Agriculture: Moderate drought can be a headache for farmers. It messes with the soil moisture, which can stunt crop growth and mess with how much food they can produce. So, farmers might have to use more irrigation to keep their crops alive, which costs more and puts a strain on water supplies. And it's not just the crops suffering – pests and diseases can take advantage of stressed-out plants too. In Florida, sinkholes can be an issue when the water table falls due to the cavity-filled limestone just under the soil layer.

For Fire Danger, when things start drying up because of moderate drought, it's like giving wildfires a green light. Dry vegetation and soil make it much easier for fires to start and spread fast. That means firefighters are on high alert, and folks in the area might have to bail out to stay safe from the flames.