ORLANDO, Fla. – Friday looks to be the last day of good weather to be outdoors as conditions remain mostly dry, with highs warming into the upper 70s under mostly cloudy skies.
Models continue to be in strong agreement that a stream of moisture will begin to push into Central Florida on Saturday, with the subtropical jet stream sending in even more copious amounts of rain through Sunday.
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This weekend, two storm systems will combine, increasing the chance of rain to 70-80% all weekend long.
On Saturday, a weakening cold front will stall across the peninsula. An area of low pressure is then forecast to develop in the Gulf of Mexico, shifting east along the boundary and crossing over Florida through Sunday.
Heavy rainfall will be the main threat this weekend, with 1-3 inches forecast -- and locally higher amounts in excess of 4 inches possible. Localized flooding will be possible in areas that receive repeated rounds of heavy rain. Besides the rain, northerly winds will strengthen, with gusts 25-35 mph possible Sunday.
With constant rain through the majority of the weekend, planned outdoor events both days will likely be affected, including the Daytona 500. Over the past 10 years, the Daytona 500 has experienced three years with rain delays, with the 2020 race having to be pushed to Monday.
Saturday highs will warm to near 70 degrees, with even an even cooler afternoon Sunday as temps struggle to reach the low 60s.
Drier air returns to the area by Presidents’ Day, with highs staying below average through the majority of next week.