OCALA, FL (352today.com) – As students head back to school for the first week, expect typical mid‑August weather in Ocala: hot, humid, and occasionally stormy. Afternoons will bring partly to mostly sunny skies, but don’t be surprised if one or two heavy thunderstorms roll through, offering a quick but intense relief from the heat. Mornings and evenings should be muggy but manageable, with temperatures ranging from the mid‑70s overnight to low‑90s by mid‑day.

Meanwhile, keep an eye on the tropics: the National Hurricane Center is watching a system known as Invest 97L, located off the coast of Africa. Conditions appear favorable for development, with a high (around 90%) chance it will become a named storm, Erin, within the next week. While it’s too early to pinpoint a track, current guidance suggests it will form far east in the Atlantic and likely remain east of Florida for now. Still, as Erin develops later this week, forecasters will be watching more closely.

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

Monday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. High near 92. Heat index values as high as 105. South wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday: A slight chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday: A slight chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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