A rare out-of-season cold front left Central Florida Wednesday with a slightly drier air mass, resulting in fewer afternoon storms.

Most of the storms will be focused along an inland-moving east coast sea breeze east of Interstate 4.

Despite the showers, we saw a good deal of sunshine with highs climbing into the low-to-mid 90s. With the humidity factored in, it felt like nearly 100 degrees with the heat index at times.

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Quite the change in the weather conditions on Wednesday across Central Florida compared to what we encountered on Tuesday as stability managed to take over most of the area with a late season front dropping just to our south. The quieter weather won't last long, though. As that boundary breaks apart, we will return to the more typical summer-time pattern. And we continue to watch an area of low pressure travelling across the Atlantic which may take on tropical features over the next few days.

Through the overnight, look for partly cloudy to fair skies with temperatures falling back in to the mid 70s for most areas, while parts of Marion county may actually drop in to the upper 60s. Winds will be very light if not calm in most locations.

As we move through the day on Thursday, temperatures will again soar to the low and mid 90s in most locations. The air above does lose some of the stability, leading to some scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon, though not nearly as much rain as what we expect to encounter as we move in to Friday and the upcoming weekend, where rain chances each day will run closer to the 50-percent range. Temps may top out a few degrees cooler this weekend, closer to the normal high of 92.

In the tropics, Invest 93 has yet had a chance to gain any significant development as it continues to move to the east. Long range models still show some development in to a tropical depression/storm as it approaches the northern end of the Leeward Islands by late Friday and early Saturday. From that point, it appears that the track will take a turn to the northwest and eventually take on more of a northerly motion that would keep it east of the Florida peninsula. A few models even show the storm system "falling apart" as it rides closer to the Bahamas. We will monitor it closely and be sure to keep you up to date.

Tune in for your Tropical Updates at :21 & :51 minutes past each hour.

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How to beat the heat

  • Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.
  • Stay in air conditioning, if possible. 
  • Stay out of the sun as much as you can.
  • Check on relatives, neighbors and pets who may be sensitive to heat-related illness.
  • Wear clothing that's lightweight, loose fitting and light-colored.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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