Clouds slowly clear; fire threat increases on Thursday

ORLANDO, Fla. — The severe thunderstorm watch across Central Florida has expired. Storms will continue to move offshore and also affect South Florida, where a severe thunderstorm watch is in effect through 11 p.m.

Lots of damage reports across Central Florida poured into Channel 9's digital team on Wednesday afternoon. The storms raced to the northeast at 60 mph. Wind gusts of 40 mph were recorded at Leesburg Airport, and 44 mph gust in Haulover in Brevard County. Several trees down and widespread power outages in Central Florida.

Close to half dozen severe thunderstorm warnings were issued across Central Florida, as the radar estimated the storms' winds at 60 mph. Fortunately, no tornado warnings.

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Cloudy skies Thursday evening, with the possibility of a few scattered showers, weak in nature, crossing over Central Florida around midnight. For the most part the atmosphere will continue to stabilize.

Weather conditions will continue to improve on Thursday. Temperatures will reach the low 90s, not too humid on Thursday afternoon, breezy. Winds will be mainly from the west, gusting up to 20 mph.

Drier and much more comfortable air moves into Central Florida on Friday and warm afternoon temperatures reaching the low upper 80s to lower 90s.

Humidity and temperatures will continue to increase gradually just in time for the Memorial Weekend.

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