ORLANDO, Fla. – UPDATE: All severe thunderstorm watches and warnings previously issued in Central Florida have expired but the chance for heavy rain and occasional thunder in some areas remains.
Previously, warnings were in effect for several Central Florida counties.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect until Apr 11 3:00PM for Brevard, Indian River. #flwx #news6 pic.twitter.com/XSAUlVdcfW
— News 6 WKMG (@news6wkmg) April 11, 2021
“It is a severe thunderstorm warning but, those involved in it: I want you to treat it like it is a tornado warning because the winds are that intense,” News 6 meteorologist Jonathan Kegges said.
Kegges said they were still straight-line winds but estimated to be about 70 mph around 12:45 p.m.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect until Apr 11 1:15PM for Orange, Osceola, Lake. #flwx #news6 pic.twitter.com/fKcPc6RhFc
— News 6 WKMG (@news6wkmg) April 11, 2021
In addition to heavy rain and strong winds, the storms also brought hail and lightning to many areas. A lightning strike sparked a house fire in Mount Dora, officials said.
News 6 viewers also submitted photos of various-sized hail that fell during an early line of storms.
Hail near College Park area Sunday, April 11.
ORIGINAL WEATHER STORY
Strong storms will continue to develop north of Orlando through the morning. The storms will congeal into a line and sag south toward the I-4 corridor and Orlando metro by around lunchtime. The line will make its way closer to the Space Coast in between 1 and 3 this afternoon.
Early in the day, north of Orlando hail, heavy rain and damaging wind will be the main threats. The threat will transition to more of a damaging wind and heavy rain threat as the storms merge into a line and move south as the morning pushes on.
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A brief tornado is possible along the line of storms, but that is not the main threat.
Even after the storms roll through, it will remain very windy Sunday. Wind gusts at times could top 30 mph. Gusts will be higher in any thunderstorm that develops.
Localized flooding will also be possible through Sunday afternoon as torrential rain is expected.
The weather turns much calmer Monday, but the week ahead as a whole will be unsettled.