It'll be another hot and dry day Thursday, with highs flirting with record levels in several Central Florida cities.
With only a few spotty showers possible east of Interstate 4, ample sunshine will drive temps into the mid- to upper 90s, with coastal counties in the lower 90s.
A Heat Advisory has been issued for Flagler and Marion counties that will be in effect from noon to 8 p.m. Maximum heat index readings during that time could reach 106 to 111 degrees.
Kissimmee Utility Authority said customers set new peak demand record for the third consecutive day. KUA recorded an instantaneous system peak of 349.4 megawatts at 4:43 Thursday, beating the demand of 345.4 MW set Wednesday afternoon.
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High temperatures will likely fall short of the existing records, but we may reach within a few degrees. The existing record for Orlando will likely hold for another year, which is 99 degrees last set in 1925. Both Daytona Beach and Melbourne may come within about 2-3 degrees of their existing records for this date. (Daytona Beach -- 96 degrees, set in 1941; Melbourne -- 96 degrees, set in 2012.)
The dry conditions and sinking air will not be conducive for widespread thunderstorm development in the afternoon, although the inland-moving sea breeze may provide enough lift to create a few spotty storms east of Interstate 4. Anything that develops will be isolated in nature and will subside when the sun goes down. Readings will settle into the mid- to upper 70s overnight under fair skies.
Less coverage of afternoon storms will prevail through the first part of the weekend; by Sunday, we’ll see a return to more seasonable conditions with highs back in the low to mid-90s and a 40 percent chance of afternoon storms.
In the tropics, Invest 96L continues to move west-northwest toward the Lesser Antilles and could intensify into Cristobal in the next few days.
Tune in for your Tropical Updates at :21 & :51 minutes past each hour.
