Orlando Weather Made Simple: Storms, Dust, and Heat Explained for Everyone

What’s Happening Right Now in Orlando?

The friendly weather experts at FOX 35 (called the Storm Team) are watching big, strong rain clouds that can turn into severe thunderstorms (that’s a fancy way of saying a really rough storm with lots of rain, lightning, and maybe harsh wind) over Orlando and Central Florida this afternoon.

Because of these storms, several severe thunderstorm warnings have been sent out for many nearby counties. Think of a warning like a grown-up yelling “Heads up!” because the storm might bring:

• Damaging wind gusts – sudden strong winds that can knock over things.
• Hail – little (or big) balls of ice falling from the sky.

Important Point: If you hear a severe thunderstorm warning, it means a storm that can hurt people or break stuff is nearby. Go inside and stay away from windows!

Live Radar: Watch the Storms Move

Here is a special picture (called a radar) that shows where the rain is falling right now over Central Florida:

This map helps you “see” the storms like a video game showing raindrops from above.

Timeline: When Will the Rain Arrive?

Let’s break the day down into easy steps so you know what to expect:

1. Around 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. (noon to early afternoon): A few heavy rain showers will start to pop up like popcorn.
2. From 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. (afternoon to evening): This is the prime time for storms – the highest chance of loud thunder and rain.
3. By 8 p.m. (evening): We’ll have some leftover steady rain, like the last drops after a shower.
4. By midnight (late night): The sky dries out and the rain stops completely.

During those steps, we might see:

• Heavy rain
• Lots of lightning (bright sky flashes)
• Gusty winds (wind that pushes hard)

A few strong storms could happen, but the experts say we won’t see super bad storms everywhere.

It will also be hot and sticky (we call that humid) today. The actual temperature will be in the low and mid 90s (about 90–95°F). But because the air is sticky, it will feel like it’s between 100°F and 105°F. That “feels-like” number is what your body thinks the heat is.

Important Point: When it feels hotter than 100°, drink water, stay in the shade, and keep cool!

Another Saharan Dust Plume (What Is That?)

A “Saharan dust plume” is like a giant invisible (well, kinda visible) cloud of fine sand and dust that travels all the way from the Sahara Desert in Africa to Florida. Another batch is coming this week, and it changes our weather in a few ways:

• Good stuff: The dust helps reduce rain chances by the middle of the week (fewer storms). It also makes our sunrises and sunsets super colorful – like the sky gets painted orange and pink!
• Not-so-good stuff: The dust can make the air a little dirty. This might bother people who have breathing problems (called respiratory illness) or who are allergic to dust.

This dust is expected to stick around until the end of the week, and maybe even a tiny bit into the weekend.

Here is a helpful picture from the news showing the dust:

Another Heatwave on the Way

Because the dust means fewer rain clouds, the sun gets more time to warm things up.

• Afternoon high temperatures (the hottest part of the day) will climb to the mid and upper 90s (around 95–99°F) on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week.
• Add the sticky humidity, and the “feels-like” temperature could shoot up to 103°F–107°F. That’s like standing next to a hot oven!

Below is a picture that shows the heat forecast:

Summary

Let’s recap everything in a super simple list:

• Today: Storms may start at noon, strongest 2–7 p.m., all dry by midnight. Hot, feels like 100–105°.
• Warnings: Some areas have alerts for wind/hail – stay safe inside.
• Saharan dust: Arrives this week, cuts down rain, makes pretty skies but may bug your breathing.
• Heatwave: Wed–Fri, highs in mid/upper 90s, feels like up to 107°.
• Who told us? The FOX 35 Storm Team (our local weather pros).

FAQ (Easy Questions & Answers)

Q1: What is a thunderstorm warning?
A: It’s a message from weather experts that a storm with strong wind or ice balls (hail) is happening or coming soon. It’s like a “be careful!” sign.

Q2: What is Saharan dust, and why is it here?
A: It’s tiny bits of sand from a huge desert in Africa. Wind carries it across the ocean to Florida. It can make the sky pretty but the air dusty.

Q3: Why does it “feel like” a higher temperature than the real number?
A: When the air is humid (sticky with water), your sweat can’t cool you down well. So your body feels hotter than the thermometer says.

Q4: How can I stay safe with all this weather?
A: Stay indoors during storm warnings, drink lots of water in the heat, and if dust makes you cough, keep windows shut.