








National Weather Service Forecast for: Orlando, Florida Forecast Details
288
FXUS62 KMLB 120700
AFDMLB
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Melbourne FL
300 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
...New KEY MESSAGES, DISCUSSION, MARINE, CLIMATE...
.KEY MESSAGES...
Issued at 204 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
- A cold front will pass through the area today, beginning several
days of medium to high rain chances with embedded lightning
storms.
- Breezy southwesterly winds 15-20 mph, with gusts to 30 mph,
outside of convection late this morning and into this evening.
- Above normal temperatures persist through today, with values
near record highs along the Treasure Coast.
- Deteriorating beach and boating conditions forecast into this
weekend, as increasing winds cause seas to build and a High Risk
for rip currents develops.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 204 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
Today-Tonight...Rain chances return to the forecast today, as a cold
front moves through the area into tonight. Mostly dry through the
morning hours, before showers and storms begin to move into areas
north and west of I-4 after 2 PM. Coverage will then increase from
north to south into the evening hours, with all of the area seeing
at least a 30% chance for showers by sunset. As the front moves
south of the area overnight, drier conditions will begin to develop
into late tonight. However, PoPs 30-60% will linger through the
evening. A few to scattered storms will be possible, with modest
CAPE, especially along the front itself. Any storms that develop
will be capable of gusty winds (with lingering dry air aloft),
lightning strikes, and heavy downpours.
Gusty southwesterly winds are expected late this morning through the
afternoon, outside of any convection. Winds 15-20 mph are forecast,
with gusts up to 30 mph. Model guidance suggests these winds will
linger through the evening along the frontal passage, before
diminishing to 10-15 mph by daybreak. Southwesterly flow will pin
the sea breeze to the coast, allowing for even coastal areas to
reach the upper 80s and threatening a few records along the Treasure
Coast. Areas north of I-4, which are expected to see showers begin
earlier in the day, look to remain in the mid-80s. Tonight, lows for
most areas remain in the 60s, with upper 50s possible across
northern portions of the forecast area.
Friday-Sunday...A weak Atlantic ridge axis moves over the Florida
peninsula late this week and into this weekend. Limited drying
occurs through Friday, with PWATs remaining up to 1.3" south of
Orlando in onshore flow. This translates to a few to scattered
showers (20-40%) remaining possible for southern portions of the
area late Friday morning and into Friday afternoon. Dry air in the
mid- levels will likely inhibit storm development. However, a few
strong storms will be possible, should they be able to take
advantage of DCAPE near 1000 J/kg and 500 mb temperatures near -11
C. Temperatures moderate from previous days, with breezy onshore
winds 10-15 mph keeping highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s.
Deeper moisture (PWATs up to 1.7") advects into the area this
weekend, as onshore flow Saturday veers southerly on Sunday. PoPs
increase through the period, with 30-60% Saturday becoming 70%
area-wide on Sunday, due to the passing shortwave aloft. The
highest coverage on Saturday looks to be generally south of
Melbourne, where the highest moisture will reside. Cold
temperatures aloft (500 mb near -12 to -13 C) will support the
development of a few strong storms this weekend. The main threats
will be gusty winds, small hail, and locally heavy downpours, with
storm motions around 10-15 mph. Total rainfall accumulations
through the weekend look to remain around 1-1.5", but isolated
totals near 2" cannot be ruled out. Highs warm into the lower 80s
area-wide by Sunday, under high cloud coverage.
Monday-Thursday...A stout low pressure system moves through the
Great Lakes early next week, dragging yet another cold front
through the Florida peninsula Monday into Monday night. Medium to
high rain chances persist through Monday, before drier air and
lower PoPs (20-40%) develop into mid-week. Breezy winds return,
with southwest flow veering onshore through the period. Highs in
the lower 80s Monday will see a significant cooldown to near to below
normal Tuesday through Thursday. Most areas will struggle to break
out of the 60s Tuesday afternoon. Noticeably chillier lows are
also expected, falling into the 50s, with mid to upper 40s north
of I-4.
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 204 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
Poor boating conditions offshore today, with south to southwest
winds 15-20 kts. Conditions will deteriorate across all of the
local Atlantic waters this evening and into tonight, as a cold
front veer winds northerly at 20-30 kts. Seas in the Gulf Stream
are forecast to build from 2-4 ft this afternoon to 6-9 ft by
daybreak, with Small Craft Advisories issued. Conditions will be
mostly dry through early afternoon, before coverage of showers and
storms increases through late afternoon along the front.
Boating conditions improve into the weekend, as a weak ridge axis
develops over the waters. While onshore flow diminishes through
the day on Friday, becoming 10-15 kts by late afternoon, seas up
to 6-8 ft linger in the Gulf Stream. Will see greater improvement
Saturday, as seas fall to 3-5 ft. Breezy southerly winds begin
Sunday, then veer southwesterly and increase to up to 20-25 kts
offshore Monday, ahead of another approaching front. Medium to
high coverage of showers and storms will continue through this
weekend and into early next week, especially Sunday and Monday.
&&
.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFs)
Issued at 139 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
MCO IMPACTS:
- Gusty southwest breezes today, turning northwest this evening
behind a cold front. 10% chance of peak gusts >= 30 KT.
- Scattered to numerous showers with 30% chance of lightning
storms late today, chances peaking between 20Z - 2Z.
Pre-frontal flow regime today with gusty southwest breezes. As the
front arrives from NW to SE this afternoon and evening, scattered
rain and a few storms will accompany it. Few peak gusts to around
30 KT, with gusts persisting and turning northerly to NNE
immediately behind the front. Also expect some MVFR CIGs behind
the front tomorrow night.
&&
.CLIMATE...
Issued at 204 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
Record high temperatures for east central Florida climate
sites:
Mar 12 Monthly March
DAB 90 1935 92 3/28/1994*
LEE 88 2001 92 3/26/2023*
SFB 90 2001 94 3/20/2003
MCO 89 2001 97 3/30/1907
MLB 90 1962 93 3/28/1994
VRB 88 2023 93 3/31/2020*
FPR 89 1948 93 3/31/2020*
*- Most recent of multiple dates
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DAB 86 60 77 61 / 80 40 10 10
MCO 87 62 80 65 / 70 40 20 20
MLB 87 65 78 65 / 60 60 20 30
VRB 87 65 79 64 / 40 60 30 30
LEE 84 58 81 61 / 70 20 10 10
SFB 87 61 80 62 / 70 40 10 20
ORL 87 62 80 63 / 70 40 20 20
FPR 88 65 79 64 / 40 60 30 40
&&
.MLB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...None.
AM...Small Craft Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 11 AM EDT
Friday for AMZ550.
Small Craft Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 11 AM EDT Friday
for AMZ552.
Small Craft Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 10 PM EDT Friday
for AMZ555-572-575.
Small Craft Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 10 PM EDT
Friday for AMZ570.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...Leahy
AVIATION...Heil
National Weather Service Forecast for: Miami, Florida
Today![]() Mostly Sunny |
Tonight![]() Mostly Cloudy then Chance T-storms |
Friday![]() Chance Showers then Chance T-storms |
Friday Night ![]() Chance T-storms |
Saturday![]() Chance T-storms |
| Hi 82 °F | Lo 73 °F | Hi 80 °F | Lo 73 °F | Hi 80 °F |
National Weather Service Forecast for: Miami, Florida Forecast Details
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