Orlando heat wave should lose some sizzle with rain next week, forecasters say

It’s been a dry year in Central Florida with recent temperatures approaching record highs, but some rain relief is forecast for early next week.

“It’s definitely an early season heat wave we’re experiencing right now,” said Tim Seglock, lead meteorologist with NWS in Melbourne.

Several cities were forecast to hit or tie their record temperatures Friday with the thermometer reaching the upper 90s.

The forecast calls for a 40% chance for showers on Monday, up to 60% on Tuesday, 40% for Wednesday and 30-40% on Thursday.

The region has seen about half of the normal rainfall totals for the year, and only three measured days of rain since April 1 for much of Central Florida. Through May 9, the Orlando area has recorded only 6.76 inches of rain compared with a normal total of 11.08 inches, according to the NWS.

Since April 1, the area has accumulated just 1.37 inches. Normally it would be 3.53 inches.

“Much of Central Florida as a whole is experiencing deficits from year to date,” Seglock said. “Hoping to see that change here maybe next week a little bit.”

“We’re starting to see some rain chances each day as we go into next week, and as long as that continues, that can start to put a dent in our dry pattern, but that doesn’t happen overnight,” Seglock said. “Of course, you’d like to see a more stable and consistent pattern where you’re seeing the daily showers and storms for any type of relief.”

But the respite may be short-lived as temperatures, which will sink back down to highs in the upper 80s and low 90s, are forecast to climb back up by the end of next week, and it’s too soon to tell if rainfall will become more regular.

“Hopefully, it’s not a tease,” he said.

Already fire chances are higher than normal farther south along the inland portions of the Treasure Coast, but dry conditions could bring that threat north.

“The farther we go in time that we don’t receive any appreciable rainfall, the chances for fire danger creeping into Orange County and other parts of Central Florida will obviously go up,” he said.

April is typically the driest month for the region, Seglock said, and May can be back and forth.

“It can start off pretty dry, too, which it has, and eventually as we get further toward the wet season we’ll eventually, hopefully and hopefully sooner than later, start to see some increased coverage of rain storm chances each day.”