WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — The greatest weather concern across East Central Florida today will be the potential for a few strong thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts, frequent lightning, and torrential rainfall.
Thunderstorms are expected to develop around midday over the interior before shifting toward the east coast during the afternoon and early evening as sea breeze boundaries collide. The highest storm chances will be from Melbourne northward, though storms could develop elsewhere along the coast as the afternoon progresses.
While not every storm will become severe, the atmosphere contains enough instability for a few storms to strengthen quickly. The primary threat will be wind gusts between 40 and 55 mph, which could down small tree limbs, blow around unsecured outdoor items, and create hazardous conditions for boaters. Frequent cloud-to-ground lightning will accompany the strongest storms, making it important to head indoors as soon as thunder is heard.
Some storms will also produce torrential downpours, with rainfall rates high enough to create localized flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas. Most locations will receive 1 to 2 inches of rain, but isolated spots could see 3 to 4 inches in a short period where storms repeatedly move over the same area.
Outside of the storms, temperatures will climb into the low to mid-90s. Combined with high humidity, it will feel like 100 to 105 degrees during the afternoon, adding heat stress to an already active weather day…