Melbourne, Fla. – Afternoon storms are turning severe across east-central Florida Saturday, with dangerous wind gusts and torrential rain threatening travel and outdoor plans through at least 7 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service in Melbourne, storms began forming near 2:30 p.m., rapidly expanding in coverage and intensity. The most active areas include the I-4 corridor, Brevard County, and Osceola County — where residents may see wind gusts up to 55 mph, frequent lightning, and isolated hail.
Communities including Orlando, Kissimmee, Daytona Beach, and Melbourne are under alert for possible minor flooding. Rainfall totals could reach 3 to 4 inches in localized zones, especially in urban areas with poor drainage.
The Weather Service urges residents to stay indoors during peak storm activity. Motorists should slow down and avoid flooded streets. Those with outdoor plans should postpone and seek shelter immediately as lightning risk remains high through the evening.
This burst of severe weather is typical for Florida’s summer storm pattern, fueled by high heat and Gulf moisture. Additional storms may fire again over the weekend.
Storm intensity is expected to taper off after sunset as the system pushes offshore.
