Some much needed rain arriving to Central Florida

An unsettled weather pattern is moving into Central Florida, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

A cold front will push into the area starting Friday, resulting in scattered showers and storms across the area.

This front will stay over the area for the next several days, keeping rain chances elevated into the middle of next week.

This will likely be one of the more unsettled weather patterns the region has seen in 2021, but it’s actually welcome news.

While Florida is currently in dry season, the year so far has been parched.

Since March 1, the Orlando International Airport has only received 3.68 inches of rain. This is 1.49 inches below normal.

The dry conditions are even worse when you look at all of 2021. Orlando has received just 6.55 inches of rain, well below the average of 9.90 inches.

This lack of rain has led to the development of abnormally dry conditions across much of the state.

This week’s drought monitor from the National Drought Mitigation Center keeps almost all of Central Florida abnormally dry, with moderate drought conditions developing in South Florida.

This much-needed rain will probably put a dent in drought conditions, with abundant rainfall likely into early next week.

The latest computer guidance shows a widespread 3-4 inches of rain is expected through next Thursday, with  5 inches-plus amounts possible in portions of the region.

This could lead to minor flooding concerns early next week, but impacts will be minor compared to the alternative.

The alternative

If no rain fell over the next several days, drought conditions would likely worsen across the area.

This could cause increased brushfire danger. Florida is now entering the peak of brushfire season, and small brushfires have already developed over the last few weeks.

So while the next several days will feature some pretty gloomy weather, be thankful for the rain that is falling.