ORLANDO, Fla. – Today is marked as a Weather Alert Day because strong to severe storms are expected this afternoon and evening in east Central Florida. It’s essential to remain weather-conscious, particularly if you have activities planned outside.

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What to expect this weekend:

As it is Mother’s Day weekend, for those considering brunch under the sky or a beach outing, the ideal weather will occur earlier in the day on both Saturday and Sunday.

Expect thunderstorms to develop from the middle to late afternoon on each day, so it is advisable to conclude any outdoor activities by early afternoon to avoid getting caught in the weather.

The Storm Prediction Center has placed our area under a Level 1 (Marginal Risk) for severe weather today and again tomorrow, meaning isolated strong to severe storms are possible. Our biggest threats are gusty winds up to 60 mph, quarter-sized hail, heavy rain, and frequent lightning.

Storms today will begin first across our southern counties and move to the northeast through the late afternoon and early evening.

Most of the storms will wind down by midnight.

Looking ahead:

• Sunday through Tuesday: We’ll see more of the same pattern with scattered storms each afternoon, particularly over inland areas. Rain and storm chances spike Monday and Tuesday as a cold front pushes through. This will bring a heightened risk of localized flooding, especially north of I-4 where rainfall totals could reach 3 to 5 inches. Monday is shaping up to be the wettest day, with widespread showers and storms expected.

• Mid to late week: The weather settles down midweek as high pressure builds in. Sunshine returns, but so does the heat! By late week and into next weekend, highs will climb into the lower to mid 90s with heat indices pushing into the triple digits — our hottest stretch of the year so far.