Florida heat wave: Scorching temperatures, dry conditions expected this weekend and beyond | FOX 35 Orlando
May 15, 2025 7:30am EDT
Florida heat wave: How hot and when relief arrives
Central Florida is bracing for a stretch of intense heat heading into the weekend and beyond. FOX 35 Storm Team Meteorologist Brooks Garner explains why temperatures are expected to soar into the mid to upper 90s and when the region can expect relief.
- Central Florida is bracing for a stretch of intense heat heading into the weekend and beyond.
What we know:
Temperatures will soar into the mid to upper 90s starting Thursday and will continue through the weekend and much of next week.
The backstory:
A large ridge of high pressure is building in from the Mexican Plateau, crossing the Gulf Coast, and moving into Florida.
" High pressure moves in over the next several days, and once it sets up over Florida this weekend, we're going to peak into the upper 90s for early next week," FOX 35 Storm Team Meteorologist Brooks Garner said.
Why you should care:
While this level of heat isn't unusual for this time of year, it still raises concerns about heat exhaustion. The risk is especially high for those spending long hours outdoors, including attendees of the Welcome to Rockville festival in Daytona Beach.
Beating the heat at Welcome to Rockville
Welcome to Rockville — the region's largest rock festival kicks off on Thursday and is shaping up to be one of the hottest ever, with temperatures in Daytona Beach expected to reach the mid-90s this weekend.
Officials urge residents to stay hydrated and pay attention to signs of overheating.
Surviving the Florida heat wave
Dr. Case Tedder, a board-certified family medicine physician at Orlando Health, shares how to remain safe during intense heat.
Garner explained that a cold front and upper-level trough will end the current heat wave.
"A cold front with an upper level trough rolls in, and what that means is, not only will the heat wave essentially end, but with the upper-level jet stream being in the location of this front over Florida, there's going to be some support in the atmosphere to produce hail, as well as severe thunderstorms, maybe even a few tornadoes," Garner said. "So this will be a factor for late next week."
What you can do:
To stay safe during extreme heat, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends drinking plenty of water – even if you’re not thirsty – limiting outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day, and wearing lightweight, light-colored clothing. Health officials also emphasize the importance of never leaving children or pets in parked cars, as temperatures inside can rise dangerously fast.
Dig deeper:
More helpful information can be found on the CDC's website by clicking here.
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the FOX 35 Storm Team on May 15, 2025. Additional details about how to stay safe during extreme heat was provided by the CDC's website.
