ORLANDO, Fla. – The unsettled weather pattern across the South continues Saturday. A stalled front draped across Central Florida will act as one of the forcing mechanisms for another round of heavy rain and the potential for a few severe storms. Most of Central Florida will be dry for through about lunchtime Saturday. Storm chances start to ramp up after about 1 or 2 p.m.
Severe thunderstorm watches issued by the National Weather Service at 11:49 a.m. for Orange, Brevard, Volusia, Seminole, St. Lucie, Lake, Osceola, Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee counties were expected to last until 7 p.m., but were lifted county-by-county at varying times starting around 4 p.m.
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The main severe weather threat across Central Florida looks to occur between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Torrential rain and frequent lightning will no doubt be the main threats Saturday afternoon and evening, but damaging wind gusts and large hail will also be possible in stronger thunderstorms.
While the overall tornado threat is low, it is not zero. This limited threat looks to be relatively maximized east of Orlando as the developing East Coast sea breeze gets involved. Brighter colors in the image below represent a better chance for rotating thunderstorms. Rotating thunderstorms have the chance to produce tornadoes given other ripe environmental conditions.
Conditions become more favorable closer to the I-95 corridor.
Heavy rainfall appears likely Saturday with an additional widespread 1-3 inches of rain. Isolated higher amounts will be possible. Flooding could become a problem, especially in areas that received heavy rain Friday.
Light to moderate rain looks to continue through the evening and part of the overnight, but the severe weather threat will gradually wind down through the evening. After a few showers early Sunday, most of the second half of the weekend will be dry.