Weather for Louise.hughes1

[loobylou]

Here is a link for the 15day forcast. I put it in it's own thread for Louise so that it would'nt get lost! http://www.accuweather.com/forecast-15day.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=1&zipChg=1&zipcode=32801&metric=0

[Simon Veness]

Nice one, loobylou! :happy-thumb

We also look at one of the local Tv stations here: http://www.wesh.com/weather/index.html

The bottom line is, though, that they pretty much predict scattered/isolated/periodic thunderstorms every day and some areas get them, and some just a few miles away don't! It is a tough area to forecast exactly (more than an hour ahead!! :D ).

[louise.hughes1]

thanks guys!!

[Susan Veness]

Anything under 50% isn't worth worrying about. There's a long-standing joke in Central Florida, that the weather person puts up a prediction of '30% chance of thunderstorms' in late May, then they go on vacation until October. :laughing:

Expect it to rain every afternoon. While all-day rain can set in, storms are typically short, heavy, and then gone.

PS: 'Scattered thunderstorms' really does mean scattered. It can rain over Magic Kingdom and be perfectly dry in Epcot.

[louise.hughes1]

lol o.k no probs

Aslong as my flights no affected n that ill be fine!!

Do the flights get affected by the thunderstorms often?

[Susan Veness]

Well....yes, and no. If there's lightning in the area they can't land because the ground crew can't be outside. But for the most part, storms aren't too much of a problem. You might be slightly delayed, but chances are good you'll be just fine.

Remember, afternoon thunderstorms are almost a daily event in Orlando during the summer months. But they're usually brief, and more often that not they're just a minor annoyance rather than any sort of real problem.

[DaveDreaD]

Well....yes, and no. If there's lightning in the area they can't land because the ground crew can't be outside. But for the most part, storms aren't too much of a problem. You might be slightly delayed, but chances are good you'll be just fine.

Remember, afternoon thunderstorms are almost a daily event in Orlando during the summer months. But they're usually brief, and more often that not they're just a minor annoyance rather than any sort of real problem.

And if your as sad as me they may even become the highlight of your holiday :P

[Simon Veness]

Actually, I don't think that's sad at all as a good thunderstorm can be quite entertaining (as long as you're not caught out in the open :eek: ). They are amazingly spectacular at times, and I have been known to track them on the online weather radar to see if they're going to 'drop in,' as it were! :D

Some of the lightning shows at night can also be better than the fireworks!

[Catlady]

Remember in July 2002 sitting out with friends outside on the patio at the villa we were staying in at Formosa Gardens watching a thunderstorm get nearer. After a while my friends daughter and I got scared and came indoors, suddenly hubby, son and friends rushed inside laughing. It seems a bolt of lightning had struck the field at the back so they thought it time to get indoors!:eek:

[Simon Veness]

People do get killed by lightning in Florida every year, and the pool decks of villas are NOT the place to watch from, mainly because of the pools! So it is important to be safe. Having said that, we often go out on the (covered) front porch to watch the big storms go over. We did hear about some people being killed on the beach at Clearwater a few years back - and they were some 20 yards from the water's edge :eek: Gives you an idea of the dangers.

[Susan Veness]

:laughing:

I agree they're an amusement of sorts. One of my fondest memories early on in the process was visiting with some friends in Florida, having a barbeque on their pool deck. We were all under cover when the heavens opened up, and the sound of the rain on the pool was simply glorious.

When Simon and I were having our house built, we waffled about having a pool put in right away or waiting a bit. Then we remembered that evening, with the storm raging around us while we were dry and comfortable, and it was the deciding factor in getting the pool right from the start. :)

To this day, I love it when it rains, as long as it's a spectator sport and does not require participation. :D

Do these comments help, Louise? I'm guessing many of us feel the same way about watching the storms. They're something unique about Orlando, and maybe not as unfortunate as they'd be if you were in, say, Paris. ;)

[louise.hughes1]

yeah thanks guys!!

I am now semi looking forward to the storms lol!

[Seth1970]

Last time I went (15 years ago, eek!), there was a spectacular storm over I-Drive. We were staying in the Gateway on Kirkham (now know as the Imperial swan), and had a great view of the Howard Johnson tower (now known as the Sheraton Studio-they change a lot dont they?) The skies were black, the rain was torrential, and the lightning was the retest thing I had ever seen. It struck the top of the Howard Johnson, and sparks flew all over the place. Only lasted 40 minutes, then it was brilliant sunshine again!

[DaveDreaD]

http://www.new.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=619228&l=717e7&id=635549120

had to share that with you , it was a bit scarey as we were fueling up (i have to admit while chaseing this storm) i think we got a tad close less than a mile down the road we found the house on fire that it hit , just glad it avoioded out petrol station.

[Ret400]

Having gone at Christmas over recent years, we have missed the big thunderstorms that you often get in the summer afternoons.

I really enjoy watching them. As Susan says they can be very spectacular.

You will often find that the main outside rides are closed down for a storms. Rollercoaters are a fairly good target for lightning.

One thing that is worth thinking about is that if you are driving and a realy big thunder/rainstorm starts it can almost be impossible to drive in the quantity of rain.

I have been caught twice like this and i strongly recommend taking a slip road and pulling off the highway. It can be very very very bad visibility.

However, the really scary :eek: thing is the weather people on the TV. They really get a thrill out of this. They bring out their strange names for Radars and realy go for it. We have the DOPLAR people and the VIPER team.

But last Christmas the one flake of snow that fell in one of the counties kept them excited for hours.

Interestingly I believe lightning actually goes from the ground up :happy-smi

Talking of lightning lets just have a :clapping: for the British cyclists, rowers and swimmers today. Great medal haul:happy-thumb

[Tiggers Friend]

Depending when you're going you may have a Tropical Storm or Hurricane to watch as Fay is winding up over the next few days. :eek:

[Claire71]

Slightly alarmed by the weather forecast as we go in a few days too! Taking some comfort from simon and Susan's position in that storms can be isolated and short. Fingers crossed for everyone travelling in the next week or so!

[Susan Veness]

Typical afternoon thunderstorms are nothing to worry about, but there is a slight (very slight) concern over hurricanes. More often than not, they don't impact Central Florida in any significant way (and the tourist area is well geared up for them if they do; in fact, the Orlando hotels are a favourite retreat for residents of coastal towns if a hurricane is on the way).

Occasionally they do pass over Orlando directly. Recent history offers the comforting knowledge that the parks were only closed for a day or so each time a hurricane came through, though flights would, of course, be delayed.

There will be PLENTY of warning though, so while we always keep an eye on tropical storms, it's a rather lazy eye, not a worried or wary eye. ;)

[louise.hughes1]

aaaaaaaaaa o.k i can handle rain thuderstorms etc but hurricane is not a good word lol :(:cry:

[louise.hughes1]

just checked the 15 day weather forecast and it says warnings on tuesday for hurricane fay but then every day after that its sunny!!! am hoping this stays like this :cry:

[Tiggers Friend]

See also response to your other thread on this http://www.attraction-tickets-direct.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=6847