Orlando is running mostly sunny and hot this morning with a high near 93°F, but the National Weather Service says showers and thunderstorms are likely after noon, so get your outdoor plans — theme park hopping included — done before lunchtime.
Today’s Setup
The NWS Melbourne office says today’s pattern looks a lot like yesterday’s: an offshore flow colliding with the sea breeze is aiming the heaviest storm coverage right at east central Florida. Rain chances run 40-60%, with scattered to numerous storms firing up and then sliding east-southeast toward the coast through the afternoon and evening. Winds stay light out of the west-southwest at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight cools to near 76°F with a lingering 50% shower chance before 10 PM, then partly cloudy skies.
Best Window To Be Outside
Morning through around noon is your clearest stretch — sunny skies and lower storm coverage before convection ramps up. If you’re at Disney, Universal, or SeaWorld today, front-load rope-drop and early rides, then plan an indoor lunch or shopping break once radar lights up after 12 PM. Yards, patios, and Lake Eola walks are best knocked out before then too.
Rain, Wind, Or Heat Risk
The forecast discussion flags strong to locally damaging wind gusts (40-60 mph) and frequent lightning in the stronger cells today, plus locally heavy rainfall — so treat any rumble of thunder as your cue to head indoors. There’s also a very low (under 2%) chance of a brief funnel cloud where storms interact with the sea breeze along the coast, worth knowing but not worth canceling plans over. Bigger than the storm threat: heat. NWS Melbourne is calling for afternoon heat indices between 102-107°F today, so pace yourself, hydrate often, and take shade breaks.
What To Wear Or Bring
Light, breathable clothes, sunscreen, and a rain layer for the afternoon pop-up storms. An insulated tumbler 30oz keeps water cold through a sticky Orlando afternoon, and if the wind knocks out power during a stronger storm, a DARAN 288Wh Power Station (just $90 for Prime members) is a smart backup for phones and fans. Backyard pool days are still on for the mornings — an inflatable family pool is an easy way to beat the heat before storms build.
On The Calendar
Megan Moroney brings The Cloud 9 Tour to Kia Center on Thursday, July 16 — check our in-depth concert coverage and grab tickets on StubHub. Storms should clear out well before an evening show, so pack light for the walk in. Fans can gear up with a Megan Moroney t-shirt, Megan Moroney hoodie, or Megan Moroney hat ahead of the show.
Dinner Tonight
It’s too hot to stand over a stove — a cold Thai noodle salad, a build-your-own wrap bar, or smoothie bowls are the move, and a high-powered blender makes quick work of either. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Wednesday looks similar — sunny with a high near 94°F and a lower 30% storm chance after 2 PM. NWS Melbourne notes storm coverage should ease into midweek as drier Saharan dust moves in, though isolated to scattered afternoon storms stick around each day. Heat and humidity aren’t going anywhere, so keep the sunscreen and water bottle in the rotation.
