Severe Storms Prompt Central Florida Power Outages | Watching Saharan Dust & Extreme Weekend Heat

A super simple (ELI5-style) breakdown of the WESH weather report updated 7:11 PM EDT Jul 11, 2026.

What Just Happened? Strong Storms and Power Outages

Central Florida got hit with some pretty wild weather! We had super strong winds and thunderstorms that caused big problems.

Here is what the storms did:

• Lake County: About 100 homes or businesses (called "customers") lost power.
• Marion County (especially Ocala near I-75): Around 1,500 customers lost power!
• Damage: The gusty winds clipped (broke) tree branches and caused damage to roofs in the area.

Important Point: The winds were strong enough to knock out power for thousands of people and damage homes. If you are in these areas, stay safe and watch for falling trees!

Where Are the Showers Right Now?

The rain is moving north and east, but here is where we still see some wet weather:

• Light rain left behind in Citra and Anthony.
• A few sprinkles in Ocala.
• Showers near State Road 11, State Road 13, and I-95 into Flagler County and Crescent Beach, rising from the south.
• Light showers in Mont Verde.
• Ongoing lightning strikes near Lake Apopka.
• The tourist district is drying out and rain is ending.
• The weather experts (called the Storm Prediction Center) say there is a tiny risk (1 out of 5, which they call "marginal") of more severe weather tonight, but the strong storms are mostly north of the I-4 corridor.

What to Expect Tonight

The showers will keep pushing north and east. Here is the simple timeline:

• The dangerous impact (like damaging winds) will fade by 7 PM as the storms begin to fall apart.
• The leftover rain will lose its intensity by 9 or 10 PM, and then everything dries out.
• But don’t expect it to get cold! Overnight temperatures will stall in the 70s and 80s (°F), which is pretty warm for nighttime.

The Weekend: Heat Advisories and More Storms

Tomorrow (Sunday) the sun comes back, but so does the extreme heat!

• Heat Advisories (a warning that says "it’s so hot it could make you sick if you stay out too long") will return.
• In Orlando, it was 93°F, but with the southerly breeze at 10 MPH, it felt like about 95°F on your skin.
• "Feels like" temperatures (how hot it actually feels) will be between 101°F and 108°F tomorrow because high pressure is squeezing back into the picture.
• There is a 50% chance of rain (coverage). It will start sunny, but here is how the day goes:
  1. In the morning, a couple of showers may pop up near I-75 with a westerly breeze.
  2. In the afternoon and early evening, the showers will balloon (grow bigger) with south and westerly winds.
  3. If you live east of the I-4 corridor, you have a better chance of seeing heavier showers and storms.
  4. The northern parts of the region will also see a better chance for shower coverage.

If you want to go to the pool, go early! The pool forecast starts off good but finishes with passing showers.

Next Week: Saharan Dust and a Scorching Work Week

Get ready for some hot, dry air! A big plume (cloud) of air and dust from the Sahara Desert in Africa is coming back with a vengeance on Tuesday and Wednesday.

• This dust dries conditions out just a bit.
• When the air is drier, it gets even warmer!
• A system of high pressure (like a heavy lid of warm air) is rising across the Atlantic Ocean.
• The "feels like" temperatures (heat indices) will creep up to 105°F – 110°F as the work week continues.
• The 7-day forecast says Monday will be a scorcher: real temperature peaking at 97°F.
• Rain chances to start the work week are around 30%–40%.
• By next weekend, highs return to the mid-90s.

Important Point: The combination of Saharan dust and high pressure means it will feel like 105–110°F next week. Drink lots of water and stay cool!

Summary

Central Florida is cleaning up from severe storms that caused power outages (about 100 in Lake County and 1,500 in Marion County) and damaged trees and roofs. Rain eases tonight but stays warm (70s–80s°F). Sunday brings sun, scattered storms, and dangerous heat (feels like 101–108°F). Next week, Saharan dust arrives, drying things out and pushing "feels like" temps to 105–110°F, with Monday hitting a real 97°F before rain chances drop to 30–40%.

FAQ

1. What is a "heat advisory"?
A heat advisory is a simple warning from weather experts telling you that it’s going to be so hot outside that it could make you feel sick if you don’t drink water and stay cool.

2. What is Saharan Dust?
Saharan Dust is like a giant invisible (and sometimes visible) cloud of tiny sand and dirt particles that travels all the way from the Sahara Desert in Africa across the ocean to Florida. It makes the sky hazy and stops rain from forming easily.

3. Why did the power go out?
Strong, gusty, damaging winds from the severe thunderstorms knocked into trees and roofs, which damaged power lines and equipment in places like Lake and Marion counties.

4. Will it cool down tonight after the rain?
Not much! Even though the rain stops by 9 or 10 PM, the overnight temperatures will only drop to the 70s and 80s°F, which is pretty warm for nighttime.

5. Where will the storms hit hardest on Sunday?
If you live east of the I-4 corridor or up in the northern parts of Central Florida, you have the best chance of seeing heavier showers and storms in the afternoon and evening.