Central Florida cancels severe thunderstorm watch, still sees coastal rain

ORLANDO, Fla. — 10 p.m. Update:

Meteorologist Rusty McCrainie said the Severe Thunderstorm Watch was canceled, but there is still some rain along our coast, with some locations getting one to three inches of rain.

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3 p.m. Update:

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for most of Central Florida, including metro Orlando.

That means that severe storms are possible, meteorologist Rusty McCranie said.

The highest chance for them is along Central Florida’s coast, with the main effects being an isolated tornado, winds in excess of 60 mph and hail up to 1 inch in diameter.

Metro Orlando is also expected to see strong to isolated severe thunderstorms.

Read: ‘Extensive flooding’: Fort Lauderdale airport, schools close after 12+ inches of rainfall

Elsewhere in Florida, almost a foot of rain fell in a matter of hours in Fort Lauderdale, causing widespread flooding, the closure of the city’s airport and the suspension of high-speed commuter rail service for the Broward County region.

Click here to see photos of the extensive flooding.

Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News at 4 as McCranie tracks the storms locally.

SEE: Torrential storms bring heavy rains, flash flooding to South Florida

Afternoon forecast: Thursday, April 13 (WFTV)

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Florida Flooding Airplanes sit on the runway due to flooding at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood airport Thursday, April 13, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Nearly a foot of rain fell in a matter of hours in Fort Lauderdale – causing widespread flooding, the closure of the city’s airport, all public schools and the suspension of high-speed commuter rail service. (Joe Cavaretta /South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) (Joe Cavaretta)

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Inches of rain could fall in some parts of Central Florida on Thursday.

Channel 9 meteorologist Brian Shields said a large storm system near Louisiana will spin showers and storms into Central Florida this afternoon.

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Shields said some of those storms could be strong, with the possibility of a few isolated severe storms.

Where rain does fall, there could be a couple of inches.

Read: SR 528 shut down in Brevard County due to large law enforcement presence

Shields said the highest rain chance is along the coast.

High temperatures are forecast to stick in the middle 80s.

Read: Pine Hills Elementary School holds prayer vigil for 3 students killed in last 3 months

The forecast is set to dry out a bit on Friday and Saturday.

Follow our Severe Weather team on Twitter for live updates:

• Chief meteorologist Tom Terry
• Kassandra Crimi
• George Waldenberger
• Rusty McCranie
• Brian Shields

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

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