The Brief
- A FOX 35 Storm Team Alert remains in place for Sunday as a shifting weather pattern brings a 60% chance of severe afternoon thunderstorms to metro Orlando between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- While a thick, incoming layer of Saharan dust will create vibrant sunsets, it will also lower regional air quality for sensitive groups before drying out the atmosphere later this week.
- By Tuesday, the dust layer will cap rain chances at just 20%, causing temperatures to skyrocket back into the upper 90s with feels-like heat index values tracking well over 100 degrees.
Though a relentless heat dome has locked in record-breaking temperatures over the past few days, a wave of afternoon storms is still expected to move into Central Florida by Sunday evening.
With a dense plume of Saharan dust overhead and a FOX 35 Storm Team Alert in place, residents can expect a hot, humid, and wet end to the weekend.
Storm chances for July 12, 2026
The drier air in play, along with the instability in the atmosphere, brings the threat of a few strong to severe storms for Sunday.
Rain chances spike to around 60% through the early evening, with numerous storms expected. The storms ignite with the help of the sea breeze and a bit of upstairs energy. …