FLORIDA — Rain and scattered thunderstorms are forecast to develop across central Florida Friday afternoon and evening, with the most concentrated activity stretching from Ocala through Gainesville and Palm Coast to Daytona Beach.
Forecast model guidance valid around 6:00 PM Friday shows a corridor of heavier showers and storms pushing west to east across the region. The highest storm coverage appears north of Orlando, with a pronounced band extending across:
- Gainesville
- Ocala
- Palm Coast
- Daytona Beach
Meanwhile, additional scattered activity is visible near Melbourne along the east-central coast and portions of the I-4 corridor.
Best Chance for Showers and Storms
The strongest signals for thunderstorms are concentrated across north-central and east-central Florida, particularly between Ocala and Daytona Beach. Embedded heavier cells within that band could produce:
- Frequent lightning
- Brief heavy rainfall
- Gusty winds
The activity is expected to move from west to east during the late afternoon and evening hours, meaning inland areas such as Ocala and Gainesville may see storms first before they track toward Palm Coast and Daytona Beach.
Lightning a Major Concern
While rain is generally beneficial, especially in dry conditions, lightning presents a unique concern across Florida.
With parts of the state experiencing extreme drought conditions, lightning strikes — even during rain events — can ignite new wildfires quickly if rainfall is uneven or short-lived…