Orlando weather: Evening storms, expected to end by midnight

A sea breeze moving inland from the East Coast is expected to fuel scattered storms across Central Florida this evening, bringing the potential for frequent lightning, heavy rainfall, and gusts up to 45 mph. Localized flooding is possible, with some areas forecast to receive up to four inches of rain. The storms are expected to taper off by midnight.

Swells from Tropical Cyclone Kirk will continue to create dangerous surf conditions and rip currents along the coast through the weekend and into next week, officials warn.

Looking Ahead:

Deep tropical moisture will bring more scattered showers and thunderstorms to Central Florida on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. These storms may bring lightning, gusts up to 40 mph, and heavy rainfall totaling 1 to 3 inches.

Temperatures will remain in the upper 80s to low 90s, with heat indexes ranging from 100 to 105 degrees. Winds are expected to increase slightly by Thursday.

Tracking the Tropics:

Hurricane Kirk formed Tuesday afternoon in the eastern Atlantic, becoming the 11th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

It is expected to strengthen over the next 48 hours and is forecast to become a major hurricane – a Category 3 storm or stronger – by Thursday.

Kirk is expected to stay far east of the U.S. out in the Atlantic. 

Hurricane Kirk formed Tuesday in the Atlantic and is expected to become a major hurricane. No direct impacts to the U.S. or Florida expected.

A ridge of high pressure will build over the Southeast later this week, leading to lower rain chances on Friday and Saturday.

However, uncertainty remains about potential low-pressure development in the Gulf of Mexico. Rain and storm chances will increase again from Sunday through Tuesday, with cooler highs in the mid-80s expected.