Strong thunderstorms left thousands of Central Florida customers without power after damaging winds swept through parts of the region, with Marion County seeing the biggest outage count. WESH reported that about 100 customers were out in Lake County, while the number rose to around 1,500 in Marion County.
The outages came as afternoon showers moved north and east across the area, but the storms did not bring lasting relief from the heat. The forecast also keeps a close watch on more scattered storms, with the Storm Prediction Center issuing a marginal risk, or 1 out of 5 threat, for the rest of the night.
Damage Reported In Marion County
Strong and gusty winds were blamed for the outages in and around Ocala, especially along I-75. The weather also clipped tree branches and caused roof damage in parts of Marion County, adding to the impact from the storms.
After the more intense weather moved on, only light rain and a few sprinkles remained in places including Citra, Anthony, Ocala, and parts of the area eastward toward I-95. Lightning was still being tracked around Lake Apopka, while rain in the tourist district was beginning to taper off.
| Area | Reported Outages | Other Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| Lake County | About 100 customers | Storm-related outages |
| Marion County | About 1,500 customers | Gusty winds, tree branch damage, roof damage |
Heat Advisory Conditions Return
Even as the storms fade, the heat remains the bigger story for the weekend. Forecasters expect heat advisories to return, with feels-like temperatures projected between 101 and 108 degrees tomorrow and heat indices climbing to 105 to 110 degrees as the work week continues.
Orlando was still sitting near 93 degrees, with a feels-like temperature of 95 degrees and a southerly breeze around 10 mph. Overnight temperatures are expected to stay in the 70s and 80s across Central Florida, so the region will not cool down much after sunset.
Weekend And Early Week Forecast
Sunshine is expected to return tomorrow, but another round of scattered afternoon and evening storms is also in the forecast. Coverage is expected to be about 50% tomorrow, with a better chance for heavier showers and storms east of the I-4 corridor by Sunday evening.
High pressure is trying to build back into the area, and the forecast also points to a plume of air and dust returning early next week. That could help dry conditions out a bit on Tuesday and Wednesday, even as temperatures remain high.
The seven-day outlook calls for a peak of 97 degrees on Monday, with rain chances around 40% to 30% to start the work week. By next weekend, highs are expected to return to the mid-90s.
