Orlando Weather Radar

Orlando Live Weather

Orlando Live Weather Radar

Click to toggle between the Orlando cloud cover radar map and the Orlando precipitation radar map.

Orlando Hourly Weather Forecast

Orlando 7-Day Weather Forecast

Orlando Weather Overview

Orlando weather radar provides real-time doppler storm tracking across Central Florida. Located 42 miles from the Atlantic and 77 miles from the Gulf, the metro experiences near-daily thunderstorms June through September when converging sea breezes trigger explosive development. This orlando weather radar captures doppler cells each afternoon — heavy rain, lightning, and flash flooding arrive within minutes.

Hurricane season brings the greatest threat. During 2004, three hurricanes struck in six weeks — Charley crossed as a Category 4 with 150 mph winds. Hurricane Ian dumped 12 to 18 inches of rain. Orlando weather radar loops showed Irma's eyewall tracking overhead in 2017, knocking out power for over a million residents. The orlando weather radar helps monitor tropical systems approaching from both coasts using advanced doppler technology.

Tornadoes pose serious year-round danger. A February 1998 outbreak killed 42 across Orange and Osceola counties. Orlando weather radar displays show hook echoes and doppler rotation signatures when tornado-warned storms approach. Summer heat indices exceed 100°F regularly May through October. The city averages 51.45 inches annual rainfall per NOAA normals. The NWS Melbourne office issues doppler weather alerts for severe thunderstorms and flooding. Orlando weather radar updates every 10 minutes, delivering real-time doppler tracking for residents, commuters, and theme park visitors. Check orlando weather radar before heading out — Central Florida's volatile doppler weather patterns demand constant monitoring.

Orlando Weather Risks & Safety

Key weather hazards to monitor on the Orlando weather radar

Hurricane & Tropical Storm Risk

Orlando sits in the path of Atlantic and Gulf tropical systems. Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, peaking in August and September when warm sea surface temperatures fuel rapid intensification. On the radar, you can track the eye wall, rain bands, and embedded tornadoes as a storm approaches. If you live in Orlando, keep your evacuation plan current and check the radar frequently once a tropical advisory is issued.

Flooding & Flash Flood Risk

Flash flooding is Orlando's most persistent weather hazard. Slow-moving thunderstorms or tropical moisture can dump enough rain to overwhelm drainage systems within hours — especially in paved urban areas where water has nowhere to go. Check the radar to see where the heaviest rain is falling and which areas to avoid. The standing rule: turn around, don't drown. Never drive through flooded roads, even if they look shallow.

Severe Thunderstorm Risk

Severe thunderstorms roll through Orlando regularly, especially spring through early fall. Expect damaging winds above 58 mph, large hail, and dangerous lightning. The radar shows you each storm cell's position, movement, and intensity — so you can tell if one is headed your way. When a thunderstorm warning drops for Orlando, get indoors and away from windows until it passes.

Extreme Heat Risk

Summers in Orlando get dangerously hot — heat indices regularly push past 100°F, and heat waves can last for weeks. When the radar shows clear skies with no storm activity for days, that usually means the heat is building. Outdoor workers, elderly residents, and anyone without reliable AC are most at risk. Stay hydrated, avoid outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours, and check on neighbors who might be struggling.

How to Use Orlando Weather Radar

Follow these steps to get the most from the Orlando weather radar data.

Check Current Orlando Weather

Look at the weather status bar at the top of the page for real-time Orlando temperature, humidity, and wind data. During hurricane season, rising humidity and shifting winds signal that a tropical system may be tracking toward Central Florida's coast.

Watch the Orlando Doppler Radar Map

The radar map tracks precipitation moving across the greater Orlando metro and Central Florida. Play the animation to see afternoon thunderstorm cells building, tropical rain bands approaching, or flood-producing clusters — and whether they are heading toward your neighborhood.

Review the Orlando Weather Forecast

Scroll to the hourly and 7-day forecast for Orlando. Watch for tropical storm alerts during June through November and daily thunderstorm timing in summer. Orlando's afternoon storms build fast off converging sea breezes — the hourly breakdown shows exactly when rain is expected.

Decide and Act

Heavy rain stalling over Orlando? Avoid low-lying roads and underpasses along I-4. Hurricane bands on radar? Follow your evacuation route. Clear skies with no afternoon buildup? Perfect theme park weather. Bookmark this page — Orlando weather shifts fast in every season.

Who Benefits from Orlando Weather Radar

How different people use the Orlando radar data

Commuters & Drivers

Orlando commuters on I-4, State Road 408, and State Road 417 know that a single afternoon downpour can flood underpasses and gridlock the I-4/408 interchange in minutes. Check the radar before your commute — see exactly where heavy rain and stalled storm cells are blocking Central Florida highways.

Outdoor Enthusiasts

Runners at Lake Eola Park, hikers on the West Orange Trail, and families at Bill Frederick Park — check the hourly forecast before heading out. Orlando's afternoon thunderstorms build fast off sea-breeze convergence, and the radar shows them forming 20 to 30 minutes before they hit.

Event Planners & Families

Planning a day at Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, or an Orlando City match at Exploria Stadium? The 7-day forecast helps pick the driest window. On the day itself, the radar shows exactly when afternoon thunderstorms will roll across the theme park corridor and International Drive.

Outdoor Workers

Theme park crews, Orange County Convention Center staff, construction teams across the growing metro, and landscaping crews — check the radar before scheduling outdoor work. Orlando's daily summer thunderstorms bring dangerous lightning and heavy rain with very little lead time from May through September.

Orlando Weather FAQ

Common questions about Orlando weather patterns and radar

When is hurricane season in Orlando?

Hurricane season in Orlando runs from June 1 through November 30, with peak activity between August and October. Orlando is roughly 42 miles inland from the Atlantic, so hurricanes typically weaken before arrival — but not always. In 2004, three hurricanes (Charley, Frances, and Jeanne) struck the metro within six weeks, causing billions in combined damage. Keep an evacuation plan and supply kit ready before June each year.

What was the worst weather disaster to hit Orlando?

The 2004 hurricane triple-hit stands as Orlando's defining weather disaster. Hurricane Charley made landfall as a Category 4 storm with 150 mph winds and tracked directly through the metro on August 13. Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne followed within six weeks. Combined statewide damage from the three storms exceeded 40 billion dollars. No other period in modern records brought comparable consecutive destruction to Central Florida.

Why does Orlando get afternoon thunderstorms almost every day in summer?

Orlando's position between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico creates a daily summer collision of sea breezes. When warm, moist air from both coasts converges over Central Florida, it rises rapidly and triggers thunderstorms — typically between 2 PM and 6 PM from June through September. This pattern makes the I-4 corridor one of the most lightning-prone regions in the United States, according to NOAA data.

How common are tornadoes in Orlando?

Tornadoes strike the Orlando area more often than many residents expect, especially during winter. A February 1998 nighttime outbreak killed 42 people across Orange and Osceola counties, and a similar pre-dawn event in February 2007 killed 21 in the broader Central Florida region. Hurricanes passing through can also spawn embedded tornadoes. Have an interior safe room identified before severe weather season.

How much rain does Orlando get per year?

Orlando averages 51.45 inches of rainfall per year based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. Most of that falls during the wet season from June through September, when daily afternoon thunderstorms are nearly guaranteed. Winter months are significantly drier. Despite the high annual total, rain events tend to be intense but short — a typical summer storm drops heavy rain for 30 to 60 minutes before clearing.

How is this radar different from WESH 2 or Spectrum News 13 Orlando weather radar?

WESH 2 and Spectrum News 13 provide Orlando radar alongside professional meteorologist commentary and live broadcast coverage — especially valuable during active hurricanes or severe storms. This page offers a clean, ad-free interface with interactive RainViewer radar maps, Open-Meteo hourly forecasts, and a 7-day outlook for Orlando. Radar imagery updates approximately every 10 minutes. For quick radar checks without video autoplay, bookmark this page alongside your preferred local station.