OCALA, FL (352today.com) – If holiday shopping is on your ‘to-do list’ this weekend, you might want to get out the door early Saturday morning. Otherwise, you and your packages might get wet.

The National Weather Service (NWS) says there’s the potential for heavy rain and severe thunderstorms on Saturday night and Sunday morning across north-central Florida.

You’re also going to want to take steps to secure your outdoor Christmas decorations and don’t bother inflating the Santa… they’ll be no match for the anticipated windy conditions.

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The NWS says to expect damaging wind gusts and the threat of isolated tornadoes.

Holiday activities will be challenging this weekend. This might be the time to catch a movie, check out a model train display or take in a performance.

Here are a few events to consider:

Trains at the Holidays – CF Webber Gallery, Ocala – Daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting Saturday, Dec. 16, Christmas Eve hours Noon to 3 p.m.

Ocala Christmas Light Spectacular – Florida Horse Park, Ocala – Monday-Thursday 6 to 9 p.m., Friday-Sunday 6 to 10 p.m.

The Nutcracker – Phillips Center for Performing Arts, Gainesville – Multiple show times.

Polar Express – Marion Theatre, Ocala – FREE showing on Sunday, 2 p.m. (other show times available)

Discover more things to do in north-central Florida by browsing the 352today events page.

Ocala Forecast

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

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Breezy, with an east wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Northeast wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph.

Saturday: Showers likely, mainly after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Breezy, with an east wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 61. Windy, with an east wind 21 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., then a chance of showers after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Very windy, with a west wind 21 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Windy.