OCALA, FL (352today.com) – We wish we had better news to share with you about the weekend forecast. This weekend might be a good one to do some of those indoor projects you’ve been putting off.

The National Weather Service (NWS) forecast calls for strong storms and HOT, muggy weather this weekend.

A storm system that is headed for North Central Florida has a history of producing damage in its path. The good news is it should lose a lot of its punch by the time it makes it to our area.

The fast-moving thunderstorms pummeled southeastern Texas, killing at least four people, blowing out windows in high-rise buildings, downing trees and knocking out power to more than 900,000 homes and businesses in the Houston area.

A car crushed by falling bricks from a fallen building wall sits in a downtown parking lot after a severe thunderstorm passed through, Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Houston. Courtesy: AP Photo/David J. Phillip
Transmission power lines are down near the Grand Parkway and West Road after a storm Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Cypress, Texas. Courtesy: Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via AP
Workers clean up damage inside a downtown restaurant after a severe thunderstorm passed through downtown Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Houston. Courtesy: AP Photo/David J. Phillip

What to Expect in the 352

As these storms push east, it’s expected to break apart. The NWS is predicting isolated strong to severe thunderstorms as that system moves across the Sunshine State.

That’s not to say it will be a complete washout all across the 352. Rather, the areas that do get rain are likely to experience heavy downpours and localized flooding.

On Saturday, the heat index will be in the triple digits.

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Ocala Forecast

Here’s your day-by-day outlook from the National Weather Service.

Today: A 40% chance of showers, mainly before 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm.

Saturday: A slight chance of rain, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 103. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 p.m., then showers and thunderstorms likely between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. High near 86. West wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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