OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Mother Nature hands us a mixed bag of weather over the weekend.

While many are still cleaning up after Hurricane Helene, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) is keeping its eye on another potential weather event.

The NHC is watching a region in the Gulf of Mexico that might affect the state. They report a 40% chance of development in the next week, and a tropical depression could form soon. There is also an increasing risk of heavy rain.

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For this weekend, your best days to get out are Friday and Saturday, with most of the rain holding off until late afternoon.  The best rain chance is on Sunday.

Ocala Forecast

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

Friday: A 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 3 and 5 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 91. Heat index as high as 100.  East wind 3 to 7 mph.

Friday Night: A 10% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Northeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Saturday: A 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms between 3 and 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Northeast wind 3 to 7 mph.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m., then a slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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